(Boston) — John Carwithꦑam (engraver), and William Burgis (aft🌊er)

A South-East View of the Town of Boston in North America. London: Printed for Carington Bowles, circa 1764

Cop🔯per engrav🤪ing (sheet size: 311 x 467 mm). On laid paper, full period handcoloring. 

An important and early view of Boston, based on an original drawing by William Burgis.

"This interesting view of Boston from the bay, showing the waterfront with the Long Wharf in the foreground, was ... based on the first state of th꧟e 1723 Burgis prospect of the New England city. When John Carwitham prepared the engraving, he adde🥂d the Old South Meeting House and Hollis Street Meeting house, both built in 1731. The spire of Christ Church seen in the Burgis view — then an architectural projection rather than a reality — was retained by Carwitham even though the spire would not be built until about 1740" (Deák 53).

The present engraving was intended by Carington Bowles as part of a series of prints to be used in a peep show ꦿor optical viewer. Operating one of the largest print "warehouses" in London, Carington Bowles capitalized on the interest🍃 in the American colonies brought about by the Revolution and issued several such views of American cities.

REFERENCE

Deák I:86; Winsor, Memorial History of Boston ♛II:53꧋1-2; Stokes &Haskall 14; Cresswell 496