PIERRE CHARLES CANOT (1710-1777), after THOMAS HOWDELL A South East View of the City of New York in North America. 1768

PIERRE CHARLES CANOT (1710-1777),after THOMAS HOWDELL
A South East View of the City of New York in North America
Mezzotint with exceptional original color
London: John Bowles, 1768
13 1/2” x 19 7/8” sheet

Thomas Pownall, a British statesman who arrived to America in 1753 and took positions in colonial government (Governor of Massachusetts,1757; Governor of South Carolina, 1760), organized leading print dealers in London to publish a series of plates related to military actions in North America. These views were either drawn by Pownell himself or by officers of the British Navy and Army, including Captain Thomas Howdell of the Royal Artillery. They began with images of sites and events of the French and Indian War (1755 - 1760). Later the views included cities and scenes of various locations from Canada to the Caribbean. Initially, the prints were sold individually or as small groups or parts. However by 1768, Pownell issued and sold the views as a set which consisted of twenty-eight prints with a title page bearing the title, “Scenographia Americana."

It holds the distinction as the first great published collection of American views.

The South East scene is taken from near today’s corner of Varick and Beach Streets in lower Manhattan. The main building shown is Kings College, now known as Columbia University. The buildings depicted from left to right are St. George's Church, the jail, the New Dutch Church, the French Church, the South Dutch Church, City Hall, the Presbyterian Church on Wall Street, King's College (with a cupola), and Trinity Church. In the foreground sit two young men in typical 18th century dress.