"New York with the City of Brooklyn in the distance, From the Steeple of St. Paul''s Church Looking East, South, and West" drawn by John William Hill (American, 1812-1879) and engraved by Henry Papprill, showing various commercial buildings in New York City, the Daguerrian Miniature Gallery of the famous American photographer Mathew Brady, and the Museum of New York of the famous impresario P. T. Barnum. The harbor and Brooklyn appear in the distance. Published by Joseph Laing in 1855.Hill was the son of British aquatint engraver John Hill. He emigrated with his parents from London to the United States in 1819, initially living in Philadelphia. In 1822 the family moved to New York, where Hill apprenticed in aquatint engraving in his father''s shop. In 1838 Hill married Catherine Smith - their children included the astronomer George William Hill and the painter John Henry Hill.In watercolor and aquatint engravings, Hill employed a stipple technique, building up planes of softly graduated colours made of tiny brushstrokes – a process commonly seen in painted miniatures. Applied to a larger scale on canvas the result was a form of objective realism in contrast with more common romanticised works of mid-19th century American painting. In 1829, at the age of 17, Hill began exhibiting watercolours and engravings produced in his father''s studio at the Brooklyn Art Association and the National Academy of Design. In 1833, at the age of 21, Hill was elected to associate membership in the National Academy of Design.In his early twenties Hill began work for the New York State Geological Survey, first creating a series of topographic studies and overhead views of principal American cities and towns. This work was distinguished by its accuracy of aerial perspective and recording minute architectural detail. These portraits of urban settlement required frequent travel to observe, sketch, and map before creating finished watercolour studies. Framed with a black and gold glass mat and wood frame with black finish and gold fillet on inner edge. Provenance: Phyllis Lucas Gallery, NYC. [Image: 24.25" H x 31" W. Frame: 35.25" H x 47.5" W]. Cracks on sides; damage bottom left.

Cracks on sides; damage bottom left.