Title Page to Views of the Public Buildings in the City of New York (with The Rotunda, City Hall Park)
Medium
Lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 19 5/8 x 15 1/16 in. (49.9 x 38.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
Accession Number
54.90.724
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting 1827 lithograph as the title page forViews of the Public Buildings the City of New York a collaborative effort by architect Alexander Jackson Davis, lithographer Anthony Imbert, painter John Vanderlyn and printer Prosper Desob. Measuring nearly 20 by 15 inches, it vividly captures The Rotunda in City Hall—a grand, temporary exhibition hall that symbolized New York's burgeoning cultural ambitions. Printed on a single sheet, the image showcases the neoclassical dome and elegant facade amid the park's greenery, inviting viewers into a series documenting the city's architectural landmarks. Lithography, a revolutionary technique pioneered just decades earlier, allowed for precise reproduction of detailed architectural views at a time when New York was exploding as America's commercial hub. Davis, a pioneer of the Greek Revival style, likely contributed the design, while Imbert and Desobry's expertise brought it to life through stone-based printing, making such urban scenes accessible to a wide audience. This print not only preserves a fleeting moment—The Rotunda burned down in 1827—but also reflects the era's pride in public spaces amid rapid urbanization. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Edward W. C. Arnold Collection, this work offers a window into 19th-century New York, blending artistry with civic celebration and highlighting how prints democratized views of progress for everyday citizens.
About the Artist
Alexander Jackson Davis|Anthony Imbert|John Vanderlyn|Prosper Desobry · 1803–1892
Alexander Jackson Davis (1803–1892) was a pioneering American architect whose imaginative designs helped define the nation's picturesque country house tradition. Born in New York City on July 24, 1803, Davis received an informal education, studying drawing at the American Academy of the Fine Arts, the New-York Drawing Association, and the antique casts at the National Academy of Design. He apprent...