Unattributed “Veduta di Boston”

Unattributed.  “Veduta di Boston.”  From Giulio Ferrario’s Il Costume Antico e Moderno.   

Florence, 1828.  2^nd edition.  4 1/8 x 6 1/2.  Engraving by Batelli.  Original hand color. Some offsetting from text and a few spots in margins.  Overall, very good condition. 

Giulio Ferrario was founder of the Societá tipografica de’ classici italiani and served as the director of the Braidense National Library in Milan.  Beginning in 1821, he issued a multi-volume work on the “Ancient and Modern Costumes: The history of the government, the militia, the religion, the arts and sciences, and the customs of all people ancient and modern.”  This included a number of excellent, rare views of America based on various artists.  This image shows Boston across the CharlesRiver.  In the foreground is a large building from which flies the American flag.  The Boston Commons and State House are identifiable and numerous church steeples rise from the clustered buildings.