Samuel Seymour
The City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, North America

Public Domain

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Artist Samuel Seymour (American, born England, active 1777–1823)American, born England, active 1777–1823

Artistafter Thomas Birch (American, born England, 1779–1851)American, born England, 1779–1851

Publisher William Russell Birch (American, born England, 1755–1834)American, born England, 1755–1834

CultureAmerican

Titles

The City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, North America

Date1801

Printed inBristol, Pennsylvania, United States

MediumEtching and engraving with watercolor and gouache on wove paper, state II

DimensionsPlate: 18 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (47 × 59.7 cm)
Sheet: 21 × 24 1/2 in. (53.3 × 62.2 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg

Object numberB.63.157

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionThis view depicts Philadelphia as a busy port city framed by the branches of the magnificent tree under which, according to legend, William Penn met with Native Americans to negotiate a treaty. William Russell Birch, his son Thomas, and engraver Samuel Seymour also worked together to create The City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania North America; as it appeared in the Year 1800, the first significant collection of views of a United States city.
Provenance[Kennedy Galleries. New York]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, 1963; given to MFAH, by 1966.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscribed below image: The City of / Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania North America / Drawn by Thos.[s superscript with period [.] underneath] Birch Published May 1st 1801 by Wm. Birch, Enamel Painter on Neshaminy . . . Bristol, Pennsylvania

[no marks]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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