Artist/Maker John Joseph Holland (American, born England, 1776 – 1820)

View at Fort Clinton, McGown's Pass, New York City

1814

Place madeNew York, New York, United States, North America

Watercolor, black ink, and graphite on paper, laid on heavier paper

Overall (irregular): 22 7/8 × 30 3/4 in. (58.1 × 78.1 cm)

Deposited by the Common Council of the City of New York

1889.11

A British-born townscape and theatrical scene painter, John Joseph Holland immigrated to the United States after being hired in 1796 by Thomas Wignell, actor and manager of the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. There he worked with the theater’s chief artist, C. (probably Cotton) Milbourne, and quickly established himself as one of the nation’s leading scene painters. Holland moved to New York after receiving the commission to redesign the interior of the prestigious Park Theatre in 1807. He stayed on at the Park as a scene painter for several years after the project’s completion and returned to his position there after the War of 1812. During the war, in addition to holding a number of civilian jobs, he served on the American side and was the leading artist for the Report on the Defence of the City of New York. This watercolor belongs to a group of twelve works by Holland and six by John Joseph Holland Associates that are in the Society’s collection and were included in the Army’s Report; it depicts the Barrier Gate from the interior, looking toward the northeast, with its blockhouse above. Prepared by Brigadier General J.G. Swift, chief engineer of the U.S. Army, the Report, which contained thirty-three maps, plans, and views, was submitted to a committee of the New York Common Council on 31 December 1814 after intelligence was received in July about an intended attack on New York City. It was determined that, while the harbor was prepared, Hell Gate was completely unprotected against a British invasion by way of Long Island Sound. The Report proposed the construction of a series of entrenchments, blockhouses, and barrier gates across upper Manhattan. A statement at the end of the Report indicates that Holland executed the large views while Captain James Renwick and Lieutenant James Gadsden, with the assistance of others, prepared the smaller ones.

DescriptionCityscape

InscribedInscribed below image in brown ink: "View at Fort Clinton McGowan's[sic] Pass."; verso inscribed at lower left vertically: "N. 9."

ClassificationsDRAWINGS