Plate
This blue and white transfer-printed earthenware plate made by the Staffordshire firm of Ralph Stevenson & Williams features a view of the second Park Theatre in New York. The first Park Theatre, built in 1798 after designs by French-born New York architect Joseph Francois Mangin (?–after 1818), burned in 1820. The second theatre was built in 1821 on Park Row facing City Hall Park. It too was destroyed by fire in 1848. For over twenty years the theatre was a famous venue for many of the era's most important performances of plays, operas and concerts. The view by Stevenson & Williams depicts City Hall Park behind iron railings to the left, Brick Church built in 1767 in the middle and the theatre to the right. The view belongs to a series of approximately sixteen American views with standard acorn-and-oak-leaf borders produced for the United States export market. It was based on a drawing by New York artist John Evers (1797–1884), which was reproduced by the artist in 1822 as an engraving titled "View of City Hall, Park Theatre, Broadway & Chatham St. J. Evers Artist" and published several years later in A. T. Goodrich's "Picture of New York or the Stranger's Guide" (New York, 1825). Commonly known as a miniaturist and landscape painter, Evers was also a theatrical scene painter for the Park Theatre. His view of the theatre inspired a similar composition by another potter, Joseph Stubbs (ca. 1822–1836). The American Wing's collection contains additional pieces by Stevenson & Williams. Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about Stevenson & Williams and Stubbs.
Artwork Details
- Title: Plate
- Maker: Ralph Stevenson & Williams (active ca. 1825–27)
- Date: ca. 1825–ca. 1827
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: Diam. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Abraham Lansing, 1910
- Object Number: 10.57.9
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Possibly Ralph Stevenson & Williams (active ca. 1825–27)
ca. 1825–ca. 1827
Ralph Stevenson & Williams (active ca. 1825–27)
ca. 1825–ca. 1827
Possibly Ralph Stevenson & Williams (active ca. 1825–27)
ca. 1825–ca. 1827
Ralph Stevenson & Williams (active ca. 1825–27)
ca. 1825–ca. 1827
James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
ca. 1824–34
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