Description
In 1792, New York City brokers first met to form an agreement on trading and commissions of securities, principally government bonds. Their meeting place was at 70 Wall Street under a spreading buttonwood tree. Soon thereafter, the first building for meeting at the northwest corner of Wall and Water Streets, already the accepted place for merchants and bankers to meet socially at around noontime. So it was a natural that it became a regular meeting place for business and trading. In effect, it was the precursor to the current New York Stock Exchange, until it found a more formal home at the first Merchant’s Exchange in 1827. The current New York Stock Exchange Building dates back to 1865, with many changes and renovations, from time to time, to the present day.
John Joseph Holland (sometimes referred to in older sources as George Holland) was a townscape and theatrical scene painter who emigrated to the U.S. from England in 1796 to paint scenery for the Philadelphia Theatre. He moved to New York City in 1807 where he was the designer and principal scene painter for the New Theatre for the next six years, and later became its co-manager. He also produced many watercolor views of New York City and taught other artists, notably Hugh Reinagle and John Evers.
George Hayward was a New York City lithographer operating from 1834 to 1872 at a succession of different addresses. He is best known for his views of New York City, including those published in D.T. Valentine’s annual manuals for the city, as well as views for local histories of New York and New England. Hayward also contributed plates to periodicals such as the Horticulturist. His body of work remains an important historical record of mid-19th-century New York.
Full publication information: G. Hayward, 120 Water Street, New York
Condition: Generally very good, the colors bright. Margins good. Small repair verso.
References:
Groce, George C. and Wallace, David H. The New-York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564-1860. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1969. p. 322.
Peters, Harry S. America on Stone. U.S.: Doubleday, Doran, 1931. pp. 210-212.
