Description
As described in her book Picturing America, scholar Gloria Gilda Deak writes of the original print:
“The Times took possession of the building, which occupied the site of the old Brick Presbyterian Church, on 1 May 1858. Thirty years later, the Times building was practically demolished, although portions of its outer walls and foundation were incorporated in the thirteen-story commercial edifice that supplanted it.
To the right of the Times is Park Row, with its elegant shops; to the left, Nassau Street. One of the structures conspicuously self-identified on Nassau Street is the Tribune building, flanked on the left by the premises of The Day Book, also with flag hoisted. To the right of the Tribune is the ground-floor shop of Currier and Ives, at the corner of Nassau and Spruce Streets. From this location, for over twenty-five years, thousands of prints streamed from the lithographers’ presses. Barely distinguishable in the background to the right is Saint Paul’s Chapel.”
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).
Deák, Gloria Gilda. Picturing America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N. J.: 1988, Item 796.
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).
