François Xavier Habermann
Vue d’Optique/Die Zerstörung der Königlichen Bild Säule zu Neu Yorc (Optical View/Destruction of the Royal Statue in New York)
Artist
François Xavier Habermann (German, 1721–1796)German, 1721–1796
Artistafter
Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt(German, active 1750–1800)German, active 1750–1800
Publisherpublished by
Habermann and Leizelt(Augsburg)Augsburg
CultureGerman
Titles
- Vue d’Optique/Die Zerstörung der Königlichen Bild Säule zu Neu Yorc (Optical View/Destruction of the Royal Statue in New York)
- from Collection des Prospects
Datec. 1776
PlaceAugsburg, Germany
MediumEtching and engraving with watercolor on laid paper
DimensionsPlate: 11 3/8 × 16 in. (28.9 × 40.6 cm)
Sheet: 15 3/4 × 19 3/8 in. (40 × 49.2 cm)
Frame: 18 3/8 × 22 1/4 in. (46.7 × 56.5 cm)
Sheet: 15 3/4 × 19 3/8 in. (40 × 49.2 cm)
Frame: 18 3/8 × 22 1/4 in. (46.7 × 56.5 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by First Interstate Bank of Texas, N.A. in honor of Peter C. Marzio at "One Great Night in November, 1995"
Object numberB.95.13
Non exposé
Explore Further
Department
Bayou BendObject Type
This special type of popular print was used as a form of entertainment meant to be seen through devices called “optical machines” or “zogoscopes.” The striking use of perspective lines in these optical views make them visually playful as well as historically intriguing. The main title is printed at top as a mirror image; when viewed through the optical machine it would appear correctly.
Provenance[Martayan Lan Augustyn, Inc., New York]; purchased by MFAH, 1995.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
James Turrell
no date
Aquatint and photo aquatint in colors [left]; Aquatint, photo aquatint and etching in colors [right], working proof
96.469
John Baldessari
no date
Photoetching and aquatint in colors, with color added à la poupée
96.89.6