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Wall Street 1856
Wall Street 1856
Wall Street 1856

View, New York City, Finance, Wall Street in 1856, Sidney Lucas, Color Print, Mid 20th C.

Wall Street in 1856
Sidney Z. Lucas, New York: Mid 20th Century
Color-process print
17.5 x 22.25 inches platemark
20 x 25.75 inches, overall
$450

An historical view printed in the mid 20th century, showing 19th century Wall Street in the heart of New York City’s financial district as it was in 1856. The vantage point looks down Wall Street toward the landmark Trinity Church centered in the background. Pedestrians and vendors with wagons fill the cobblestone street and the sidewalks. In the 1800s, Wall Street transitioned from a mixed residential and commercial area to the financial hub of New York City.  The street’s name comes from the defensive palisade built by the Dutch colonists in New Amsterdam in the 17th century, which ran along the area where Wall Street is today. The New York Stock Exchange had occupied the site on Broad Street since 1865 but had to expand its previous building several times. The current structure at 18 Broad Street was erected between 1901 and 1903. Within two decades, the NYSE’s new building had become overcrowded, and the annex at 11 Wall Street was added between 1920 and 1922.

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Description

Sidney Zoltan Lucas (also occasionally spelled Sydney) was a prolific New York City publisher over an approximately 40-year career in the mid 20th century. He opened the Old Print Center in 1928, where he published a variety of prints, principally New York City views, but also sporting and other prints as well. His views took a historical perspective, showing New York landscapes and harbors in the 19th century, often based on extant classic works.Lucas’ early views were etched in aquatint based on the originals, though he also produced photo-process prints. His works generally bear his copyright insignia initials in a circle. Among the many known New York City views published by Lucas are Wall Street in 1829; Wall Street in 1834; Wall Street in 1856; New York in 1822 from heights near Brooklyn; South St. from Maiden Lane 1828; New York in 1831 – Broadway St. Paul’s Church, Printing-House Square, New York 1864. Such historical views were popular and also published by other contemporaries of Lucas. During the 1930s and 1940s Lucas also operated a venture publishing etchings and other prints under the imprint Paris Etching Society.

Based on an extant Lucas view in original frame, he maintained a business relationship with Frost & Reed, Ltd. a major London painting dealer, printmaker, and printseller. This Lucas view was stamped on the verso “made in England” and was imported by J. Assenheim & Son, New York City, “importers of paintings, etchings, sportings and fine china.” It may be posited that Frost & Reed printed views for Lucas in England and exported them to New York for sale. Nonetheless, many other Lucas views are stamped on the verso “Made in France,” indicating that those examples were printed or exported from there.

Condition: Generally fine with only light toning and wear.

References:

“About the Gallery.” Phyllis Lucas Gallery — Old Print Center.2009. http://phyllislucasgallery.com/aboutgallery.html (15 March 2011).

Lane, Christopher W. “Sidney Z. Lucas.” Antiques Print Blog. 18 August 2009. http://antiqueprintsblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/sidney-z-lucas.html (15 March 2011).

“Paris Etching Society and Sydney Z. Lucas Publications.”Lucille Lucas Gallery. http://www.lucillelucasgallery.com/ (15 March 2011).

Additional information

Century

20th Century

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