Description

63. Boorse, Henry A. “Bush Hill: An Historic Philadelphia House.” Vol. 9, no. 2 (Autumn 1984), 12-18.

Bush Hill was built in 1740 by Andrew Hamilton, the Philadelphia lawyer who had defended the newspaper printer Peter Zenger against a charge of seditious libel. Boorse examines several eighteenth-century engravings of the house, describes its role in the nation’s history (it housed Vice President John Adams and his wife in 1790), and its eventual destruction in 1875.

64. Boutros, David. “The West Illustrated: Meyer’s Views of Missouri River Towns.” Vol. 9, no. 2 (Autumn 1984), 2-11.

Two little-known publishers of American views were Joseph Meyer (1796-1856) and his son, Herrmann Julius Meyer (1826-1909). Boutros provides biographical sketches of both men and describes their various publications, Meyer’s Universum and The United States Illustrated. In these publications eight views of Missouri River towns, including St. Louis, Jefferson City, and Van Buren, appeared. Sources for these views include lithographs and daguerreotypes. Boutros concludes his well-researched article by suggesting that Meyer’s views may not be entirely accurate.

65. Peet, Phyllis. “Emily Sartain: America’s First Woman Mezzotint Engraver.” Vol. 9, no. 2 (Autumn 1984), 19-26.
Emily Sartain (1841-1927), John Sartain’s daughter, was the only nineteenth-century female mezzotint engraver. Her desire to become an artist is well documented by letters written while in Europe with her father. She received training from her father and produced her first print in 1865. Peet describes her training and analyzes a variety of her mezzotints, including genre scenes, religious prints, and portraits. As the demand for mezzotints waned, she became principal of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, where a number of female wood engravers and etchers were trained.