Davenport, Urban Landscape of New York, 1842, Print

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The hand-colored print titled "new york," published in 1842, presents a detailed and picturesque view of the cityscape of new … Read more The hand-colored print titled "new york," published in 1842, presents a detailed and picturesque view of the cityscape of new york as it appeared in the early 19th century. The title "new york" is centered below the image. Below the title, the text reads "london: published by thomas kelly. 17, paternoster row," indicating the publisher and location of publication in london. Additionally, the text "s. Davenport. Sculp." is printed beneath the image, signifying that the engraving was done by s. Davenport. Of the image: - **perspective**: the image provides a broad view, likely from an elevated point, showing the expanse of the city. The perspective gives a sense of depth, with the street extending into the distance. - **central street**: a wide, unpaved street runs down the center of the image, flanked by rows of buildings on both sides. This street is bustling with various activities. - **buildings**: the buildings are primarily two to three stories tall, featuring a mix of architectural styles typical of the period. Some have distinct red roofs, adding a touch of color to the scene. - **churches**: there are several prominent churches with tall spires visible in the background, indicating the importance of religious institutions during that time. - **foreground**: in the foreground, to the right, there is a large, columned building, which might be a significant public or religious structure. - **activity**: the street scene includes horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians, capturing the everyday life of the city's inhabitants. - **harbor**: in the far background, you can see masts of ships, indicating the proximity of the harbor and the importance of maritime activities to the city. Artistic and historical context: - **engraving style**: the work of s. Davenport, an engraver, suggests fine detail and precision typical of hand-colored prints of that era. - **historical significance**: this print serves as a valuable historical document, offering a glimpse into the urban layout and architecture of new york city in the early 1840s. - **publishing context**: being published in london by thomas kelly indicates a transatlantic interest in the growing metropolis of new york, reflecting its emerging significance on the global stage. This print is not only an artistic representation but also a historical record, encapsulating the essence of new york city during a period of significant growth and development. Identifying specific buildings from a historical print like this one can be challenging, especially without modern landmarks for direct comparison. However, a few notable buildings and features from new york in the early 1840s could potentially be recognized based on historical context and architectural details. Potential recognizable buildings: 1. **st. Paul's chapel**: given its prominent spire and proximity to the center of early new york, st. Paul's chapel could be a candidate for the church with a tall spire depicted on the right side of the print. St. Paul's chapel, completed in 1766, is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in manhattan. 2. **trinity church**: another prominent church in new york city with a notable spire, trinity church, located at the head of wall street, might be represented in the background. The second trinity church building, completed in 1790, was prominent in the skyline until the third church building was completed in 1846. 3. **city hall**: new york city hall, completed in 1812, is another key landmark that might be depicted. Its distinctive federal-style architecture, with a central dome, might help identify it if visible in the print. 4. **bowling green**: if the print is showing a view down broadway, bowling green, new york's oldest park, might be visible, though it would be towards the southern end of manhattan. Architectural features: - **churches with spires**: the print prominently features several church spires, which were common landmarks in early new york. Identifying these accurately would require matching them with historical records of church constructions from that era. - **colonial and early american architecture**: the style of the buildings, with brick facades, pitched roofs, and some columned porticoes, reflects the architectural trends of the early 19th century. Interpretation based on layout: the central wide street in the print could represent broadway, one of the main thoroughfares of early new york city, which extended north from bowling green through the city. Conclusion: while it is challenging to definitively identify specific buildings without further contextual details or comparison to other historical maps and prints, the buildings mentioned above are strong candidates based on their historical and architectural prominence in early 19th-century new york. For a more precise identification, a comparison with other contemporary maps and documents would be necessary. Around the time the print was made in 1842, the population of new york city was approximately 312,710. This period saw significant urban expansion and infrastructural developments, such as the completion of the croton aqueduct in 1842, which provided a steady supply of clean water and supported the city's rapid growth and industrialization. See less