Perkins, Granville “Philadelphia From Belmont, West Park.” From Picturesque America

Granville Perkins “Philadelphia From Belmont, West Park.”  From Picturesque America. 

New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1872. 5 ¼ x 9 ¼ (image).  Steel engraving by Robert Hinshelwood.  Excellent condition.

A charming print from Picturesque America.  This two volume set and others of its genre were very popular during the mid-nineteenth century.  Through their ample illustrations they provided a glimpse of nineteenth century America – much more bucolic than today – its towns, rivers, ports, important architecture, and other areas of interest.  One of the inspirations behind the publication was the forthcoming Centennial celebration of the United States to be held in Philadelphia in 1876, and this volume celebrates the variety and majesty of the maturing country. As stated by Sue Rainey, in her excellent Creating ‘Picturesque America.’, “As the first publication to celebrate the entire continental nation, it enabled Americas, after the trauma of the Civil War, to construct a national self-image based on reconciliation between North and South and incorporation of the West.”  (p. xiii)

Other steel engraved views from Picturesque America:

City of Baltimore

City of Boston

City of Buffalo

City of Cincinnati

City of Cleveland

City of Detroit

City of Louisville

City of Milwaukee

East Rock, New Haven

New Orleans

City of New York from Brooklyn Heights

The Terrace, Central Park

City of Providence

Quebec

Richmond from the James

City of St. Louis

Washington, from Arlington Heights