- QUEBEC, The Capital of NEW-FRANCE, a Bishoprick, and Seat of the Soverain Court
Sheet: 8 1/2 × 9 3/4 in. (21.6 × 24.8 cm)
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Thomas Johnston, like many early American craftsmen, was something of a jack-of-all-trades. Contemporary descriptions refer to him as a house painter, painter of coats of arms, publisher of musical books, and as one of New England’s first organ builders; however, he is best known as a decorator of Japanned furniture and an engraver.
On August 13, 1759, Johnston announced his engraved view of Quebec. Exactly one month later on the Plains of Abraham adjacent to the city, the British and colonial American forces engaged in battle with the French and Indians. After four days the city surrendered, effectively halting France’s colonial expansion in North America. On October 1, an advertisement appeared in the Boston Evening Post announcing that Johnston’s view of Quebec was being reissued, this time with an account of the recent battle. This is an example of the revised print.
Provenance[William Reese Company, New Haven, Connecticut]; purchased by MFAH, 2002.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, in plate, left: 1. The Citadel 2 the Caſtle / 3. Magazine. 4, ye Recolets. / 5. Urſulines 6. Jeſuits. 7.
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, in plate, center left: 7 Cathedral of Our Lady. / 8.The Palace 9. y.e Seminary. / 10. The Hôtel Diew.
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, in plate, center right: 11. S:t Charles River. / 12. The Common Hoſpital. / 13. The Hermitage of the Recolets.
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, in plate, right: 14. The Biſhop’s Houſe. 15. The / Pariſh Church of the Lower Town. / The Upper Town 17. ye Lower Town. / The Platform & Battery of Cannon. / 19. The Iſle of Orleans. 20. Point Lievi
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, below plate, center bottom edge: Engrav’d & Printed By Tho.s Johnſtonfor Sten. Whiting. QUEBEC ye Captiol of New FANCE, reduced formerly by the Engliſh in 1629 / and delivered up 1632. Unſuccesſfully attempted twice ^ since [superscript] 1690. & 1711. But Surrendered to his Brit Majeſty Sep. 17 1759, after a Battle near it o. / ye 13th of Sep.t wherein both ye Brave Gen: Wolfe & ye French Gen: lost their lives. The Enemy were about 12,000 Strong y.e Brit. Army 4 or 5,000 Killed and / wounded of ye former12, or 1500 . of ye latter 5or600 Brig: Gen.l Townſend Commanded the Brit: Troops when ye CITY Surrendred.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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