Engraving

Title:

Panoramic View of the Ruins After the Great Fire in Boston, From a Point Opposite Trinity Church in Summer Street

Object Name:

Engraving

Object ID:

1995.585.11

Creator:

Black, James W. (1825-1896) -- Photographer; Leslie, Frank (1821-1880) -- Engraver

Place of Origin:

Boston, MA

Date:

circa 1872

Description:

Wood engraving, Panoramic View of the Ruins After the Great Fire in Boston, From a Point Opposite Trinity Church in Summer Street, published in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper," after photographs by James W. Black (1825-1896), c. 1872. Ink on paper. Panoramic view of Boston. Buildings in ruins, surrounded by rubble, in foreground to background. Streets cleared of debris with figures, horses and carts; Arch and Summer Streets form a "V" in right foreground receding into middle ground; Devonshire St. parallel with Arch St.; Franklin St. at the end of Arch St. with tents and many horses and carts. Buildings in background, closest to the harbor, still standing and intact. Boats in harbor. Printed directly under image: "SOMERSET STREET CHURCH.", "TRINITY CHURCH.", "CITY HALL.", "OLD SOUTH CHURCH.", "NEW POST-OFFICE.", "1. FRANKLIN STREET", "CUSTOM HOUSE.", "ARCH STREET.", "2. DEVONSHIRE STREET.", "SUMMER STREET.", "3. WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.", "BOSTON, HARTFORD & ERIE R.R. DEPOT." Titled below: "PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE RUINS AFTER THE GREAT FIRE IN BOSTON, FROM A POINT OPPOSITE TRINITY CHURCH IN SUMMER STREET. / FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BY J. W. BLACK,OF BOSTON." Lower right: "Presented Gratuitously as a Supplement to No. 901 of "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper." Handwritten pencil inscription on reverse: "Panorama of the Great Fire / Boston, Mass." Unframed.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-19 W-55.8 inches

Provenance:

The Great Boston Fire burned on November 9 and 10, 1872, consuming about 65 acres in Boston's downtown. 776 buildings were lost at an estimated cost of $73.5 million.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

People:

Leslie, Frank, Black, James W.

Subjects:

Boston MA, Catastrophes, Fires, Ruins