Views of New England
[ John Bachelder's views from Album of New England Scenery. ]
Other view pages
[ Location Index | Subject Index | Artists ]
Other view pages
[ Location Index | Subject Index | Artists ]
William Pierrie. “Long Island open on the North Side of Nicks Mate Island.” [Boston Harbor] From J.F.W. DesBarres’ The Atlantic Neptune. London: DesBarres, 16 September 1775. Etching. 6 1/2 x 10 (platemarks). Hand color. Printer’s wrinkle across the center horizontally. Else very good condition.
Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres (1722-1824) was educated within the British military system at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, as a military engineer and surveyor. When the British establishment needed a coastal survey of their territories in North America, especially spurred on by the colonial unrest which led to the American Revolution, they turned to DesBarres, who produced a magnificent work containing maps and views of the coast along the Atlantic Ocean. This atlas, The Atlantic Neptune, is considered one of the greatest maritime works ever produced. After the Battle of Bunker Hill on 17 June 1775 the British army took up defenses around Boston while George Washington took command of the Continental Army and began a siege of the city. British engineers produced views such as these for DesBarres’ atlas to provide strategic information in much the same way that a coastal profile would assist a mariner approaching a shore.
A view looking in towards Boston, which appears in the far right background. $650
"From Burlington Bay on Lake Champlain." From The Port Folio. July, 1811. Aquatint. 3 5/8 x 5 7/8. Very good condition.
An early American engraving of Burlington Bay on Lake Champlain from The Port Folio. This was a new type of American magazine, "Devoted to Useful Science, the Liberal Arts, Legitimate Criticism, and Polite Literature." It was a product of the new century, appearing first in January 1801. It began as a weekly issue until 1809, when it became monthly until its demise at the end of 1827. As with the many magazines that followed it, The Port Folio contained numerous illustrations, including this interesting view of Lake Champlain. $175
Go to page with other views of New England from The Port Folio.
Charles Fraser. “Boston.” From The Analectic Magazine. Philadelphia: 1817. 3 x 4 5/8. Engraving by Cephas G. Childs. Very good condition.
In 1812, Philadelphia bookseller and publisher Moses Thomas purchased a monthly magazine entitled Select Reviews, engaged Washington Irving as editor, and renamed the publication The Analectic Magazine. Irving, his brother-in-law J. K. Paulding, Gulian C. Verplanck and, later, Thomas Isaac Wharton wrote much of the material, which concentrated on literary reviews, articles on travel and science, biographies of naval heroes, and reprints of selections from British periodicals. Illustration “was one of the magazine’s chief distinctions. Not only were there the usual engravings on copper, but some of the earliest magazine experiments in lithography and wood engraving appeared here. The plates were chiefly portraits, though some other subjects were used.” (Mott, A History of American Magazines) A handsome view of Boston from a distance. $275
A pair of lovely views of East Rock and West Rock in New Haven. The scenes were drawn by the great New England painter, George H. Durrie, best known for his work with Currier & Ives. The landscapes show impressive, accurate detail, but still exhibit the charm for which Durrie is famous, each containing vignettes of daily life in New England. $2,600
"Lawrence Machine Shop, Lawrence, Mass." Boston: L.H. Bradford & Co., n.d. but early 1850s. Tinted lithograph. 16 x 23 3/4. Some slight browning with a couple of bends and one short tear upper center just touching image. Conserved and with a fine overall impression. Ref.: America on Stone, 105-6. Pierce and Slautterback, Boston Lithography, illus. 81.
A strong and lovely image of the Lawrence Machine Shop factory with surrounding grounds and village. The Lawrence Machine Shop produced locomotives along with other machinery such as stationary steam engines and textile machinery. The scene shown is of an ideal community with orderly and clean multistoried factory buildings abut which citizens stroll through the grounds where workers are loading crates and barrels. Beneath the title is given the dimensions of eight buildings as well as a statement that "many auxiliary buildings and a Rail Road track encircles the yard." Lovely plantings are seen on the grounds and in the outskirts. A detailed image of an early railroad engine and tender is at the right border. Here is an exquisite depiction of a New England factory prior to the American Civil War. Pierce and Slautterback record that this lovely factory employed seven hundred workers in 1853 and 1854, but it went bankrupt during the depression of 1857. $950
John B. Bachelder. “Haverhill Mass. From Bradford.” From Album of New England Scenery. New York: J.B. Bachelder, 1856. Ca. 10 x 15 3/4. Two tone lithograph by Endicott & Co. Very good condition.
A view of Haverhill from a rare series of attractive views of New England by John Badger Bachelder (1825-1894). This series of twenty two-toned lithographs was issued in 1856. John Bachelder, well known for his historical images of the Civil War, was also a fine landscape painter. He made his drawings on-the-spot, usually from an elevated vantage point just outside of the towns. Bachelder was concerned to present as accurate a picture of his subjects as was possible and his images are both precise and detailed. These prints thus present us with accurate images of these New England towns near the middle of the nineteenth century. The compositions, lithography and fascinating historical detail combine to make these most desirable prints. $650
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Thomas Hill. "Birthplace of Whittier, The Poet." [Haverhill, Mass.] Boston: L. Prang & Co., ca. 1865. Chromolithograph. 17 x 26. Mounted on original canvas and stretcher and in original wood frame. With some small repairs in image. Overall, very good condition and appearance.
Louis Prang was the most successful American publisher of chromolithographs, producing very high quality prints intended to replicate the appearance and appeal of oil paintings. Produced by using numerous lithographic stones, each printing a separate color, with the ink applied in layers that duplicated the feel of an oil painting. These were issued in attractive frames and without glass, so that a middle class family could hang an impressive looking picture on the wall of their home without the expense of an original painting. There were several levels of quality, with the most elaborate published backed on linen and stretcher, as in the case of this excellent print of the home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807. American views were particular popular subjects for Prang's chromolithographs and this is one of the larger and better quality prints issued by the firm, evidence of the popularity of the home of this American poet and abolitionist. $1,200
Steel engravings after American landscape paintings. From the portfolio Gallery of Landscape Painters--American Scenery. New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1872. Folio. Full margins. Uncolored as issued. Fine condition.
The process of steel engraving first made its impact with the small, octavo topographical engravings that appeared in such works as Willis’ American Scenery and Hinton’s History and Topography, both issued in the first half of the nineteenth century. By the second half of the century, some publishers used this medium to produce more elaborate topographical prints, and amongst the best series of this sort was William Pate’s American Scenery. This large portfolio contained medium folio sized steel engravings by various American engravers after the paintings of a number of famous American landscape artists. Not only were the sources of top quality, but the engraving work is excellent, making these some of the finest steel engraved views ever produced.
J.W. Hill. "Boston." New York: F. & G.W. Smith, 1857. Excellent, early hand color. Engraving by C. Mottram. Printed by McQueen, London. 24 1/2 x 38. With tear at left into image and other marginal tears. 1 1/2" missing section at bottom edge. Expertly conserved. Overall, very good condition and fine appearance.
A very large and finely detailed panoramic view of Boston. The Smith brothers, Francis, George W., David C., and Benjamin F., grew up in Maine working on their father's farm. By 1846, Francis and George became involved as agents and salesmen for Edwin Whitefield, who had recently started his series of American views. Shortly thereafter, Benjamin also joined Whitefield, possibly helping him with the drawing on some of his prints. In 1849 the Smiths established their own print publishing firm and proceeded to produce some of the most impressive American city views of the nineteenth century, including this lovely image of Boston. This print was drawn by J.W. Hill, with C. Mottram engraving it onto steel. It is interesting to note that though the Smith brothers' views were generally lithographs, this was done as an engraving, and was printed in London. The perspective is convincingly rendered and the detail is excellent. As John Reps says, "the Smith brothers' views achieved a standard that equaled or surpassed the best work of its kind." [Reps, Views and Viewmakers of Urban America p.207] $6,200
James M. Hart. "Scene near Farmington, Ct. Autumn." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1871. Chromolithograph. 9 x 16. Mounted on board with original label. Slight blemish in sky. Otherwise, very good condition. In period frame.
Louis Prang was the most successful American publisher of chromolithographs partly because he had a good sense of what the general public liked. One of the most popular subjects for art was views of American scenes, and this charming image of the landscape near Farmington, Connecticut is a fine example of such a view by Prang. Taken from a painting by James M. Hart, and it is a fine scene of New England in the autumn. $475
"On the Saco River, New Hampshire. Ca. 1870-80. Chromolithograph. 9 x 13 1/4. Mounted on board as issued. Very good condition. In period frame.
Chromolithography was developed by publishers in the later part of the nineteenth century as a medium to produce inexpensive prints that filled the demand for attractive images to hang in homes of those that could not afford original paintings. One of the more popular subject matters for these prints was American views. This charming image shows the Saco River in New Hampshire. $275
John Ross Key. "Stockbridge Bowl. Lenox, Mass." Chromolithograph. 8 3/8 x 14 4/8. Mounted on board, as issued. With original (worn) label. In period frame, with considerable wear but still attractive. Very good condition.
John Ross Key (1832-1920) was a landscape painter and illustrator, born in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was the grandson of Francis Scott Key, author of "The Star Spangled Banner." Educated in Munich and Paris, Key worked in Boston for a number of years and achieved fame as an illustrator of the Union siege of Charleston, S.C. during the American Civil War. After the hostilities Key wanted to return to peaceful scenes and a celebration of the beauties of landscape. During the second part of the nineteenth century, Key produced a number of charming painting of American scenes which were subsequently turned into chromolithographs. This type of print, best known from those produced by Prang & Co., were intended to duplicate the appearance of original oil paintings, thus allowing middle class Americans to hang attractive and sophisticated art in their homes. This is a fine example of both Key's art and an American chromolithograph. Issued by H. Wood, Jr. as part of "Wood's American Chromos," the scene is of the Stockbridge Bowl in western Massachusetts. $450
O. H. Bailey. “Bird’s Eye View of Clinton, Mass. 1876.” Probably done in Boston. Printed by J. Knauber & Co. Lithograph by C.H. Vogt. 18 1/2 x 26 3/4 (image) plus full margins. Reps, 1415.
According to Reps in Views and Viewmakers of Urban America (pp. 162-3) Oakley Hoopes Bailey (1843-1947) was the second most prolific producer of bird’s-eye views in America. This print is typical of his fine work of documenting a New England mill town. Not the most aesthetically beautiful of views, the detail is very fine. Clearly seen are the mills with their water sources, varieties of housing for various classes, streets, parks, railroad lines and public buildings. This view lists twenty specific structures in the key. Reps sagely reports that by recording the New England towns, Bailey had a greater task than others who made bird’s-eye views. He could not record a geometric pattern as was the case with western cities, instead he had to account for the irregular streets and hilly landscape. $1,200
Andrew W. Melrose. "Mills and Dales of New England." Washington: A. Melrose, ca. 1885. 21 1/2 x 35 1/2. Chromolithograph by Raphael Tuck and Sons. Vibrant colors. Margins trimmed to image as issued. Small portion of lower right hand corner missing. Otherwise, very good condition.
Andrew Melrose (1836-1901) was an artist of American landscapes. He had studios in Hoboken and Guttenburg, New Jersey during the 1870s and 1880s. He is particularly known for his paintings of views from North Carolina to New England, though he also produced images of Ireland, the Tyrols and Cornwall, England. Melrose published a number of large chromolithographs after his paintings. Many artists tried selling these large and colorful prints to make extra money and to help establish their reputations. This is an excellent example of nineteenth century chromolithography used to reproduce American paintigs. $2,400
Photograph by Rockwood & Co. "Nashawannuck Manufacturing Co's. Mills. Easthampton, Mass." New York: Sawyer & Judson, ca. 1900. 13 x 21 7/8. Photograph mounted on backing with title. Crease top to bottom and paper time toned. Overall, very good condition.
A photograph of a drawing showing the Nashawannuck Manufacturing Company's mills in Easthampton, Massachusetts. This company, which opened in 1848, was an elastic company, which made suspenders and the like, which was one of the primary businesses in Easthamption through the second half of the nineteenth century. $250
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