Hanington's Dioramic Representation of the Great Fire in New York, Dec. 16 and 17, 1835. Now Exhibiting with Other Moving Dioramic Scenes, at the American Museum Every Evening...

1836

Not on view

New York has suffered many terrible fires, with one of the worst breaking out on December 16, 1835. Coals from a stove ignited a broken gas line in the commercial district south of Wall Street, and the resulting flames, fanned by high winds, proved uncontrollable. Over two days, 674 buildings were lost across seventeen blocks. This print advertises a diorama mounted at the American Museum in 1836 that allowed visitors to relive one of the disaster’s most dramatic moments—the collapse of the Merchants’ Exchange, a marble building that was supposedly fireproof. Within a year, five hundred new buildings had been erected and much of the devastated area restored and improved, demonstrating the city’s economic strength and incessant demand for real estate.

Artwork Details

Title: Hanington's Dioramic Representation of the Great Fire in New York, Dec. 16 and 17, 1835. Now Exhibiting with Other Moving Dioramic Scenes, at the American Museum Every Evening...
Artist: H. Sewell (American, active New York, 1836–37)
Date: 1836
Medium: Hand-colored lithograph
Dimensions: image: 11 3/4 x 9 3/8 in. (29.9 x 23.8 cm)
sheet: 12 15/16 x 12 3/16 in. (32.9 x 30.9 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
Object Number: 54.90.736
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By H. Sewell

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Dreadful Wreck of the Mexico on Hempstead Beach, January 2nd, 1837 – As Now Exhibiting at Hanington Dioramas–Perished in All–115 Souls., H. Sewell American, Hand-colored lithograph — Dreadful Wreck of the Mexico on Hempstead Beach, January 2nd, 1837 – As Now Exhibiting at Hanington Dioramas–Perished in All–115 Souls.
Multiple artists/makers
1846–56

Nocturne (Nocturne: The Thames at Battersea), James McNeill Whistler American, Lithotint with scraping on a prepared half-tint ground, printed in soft gray-black ink on pale blue laid chine mounted on ivory wove plate paper; second state of two (Chicago) — Nocturne (Nocturne: The Thames at Battersea)
James McNeill Whistler
1878

Nocturne: Palaces, James McNeill Whistler American, Etching and drypoint; printed in dark brown ink on drum mounted medium weight ivory laid paper. — Nocturne: Palaces
James McNeill Whistler
1879–80

In proof of true love, a watercarrier skeleton arguing with a woman (Posada); two skeleton angels in upper corners (Manilla), José Guadalupe Posada Mexican, Type-metal engraving and letterpress on blue paper — In proof of true love, a watercarrier skeleton arguing with a woman (Posada); two skeleton angels in upper corners (Manilla)
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1890–1896

Toussaint Louverture on Horseback, Anonymous, French, 19th century French, Etching — Toussaint Louverture on Horseback
Anonymous, French, 19th century
Toussaint Louverture
1802

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.