Views, New York City, Midtown, Matali, Four Vintage Prints, c. Late 1930s

Matali (after)
Empire State Building and Fifth Avenue, New York City
Grand Central Terminal, New York City
Herald Square — New York City
Savoy Plaza and Netherland Hotel Facing Central Park, New York City
Art Views — C. Acquistapace & Co., New York: c. Late 1930s
Printed in Italy
Chromolithographs
Signed in the matrix lower left or right: Matali
13.75 x 9.25 inches each
$1,200, set of four

Set of four separately issued New York City views of famous sites with landmark buildings, all shown as detailed, realistically depicted street scenes and printed to produce the effect of pen and ink drawings toned with watercolor washes in muted colors. They are also at once architectural renditions of the buildings. The Empire State Building is shown from an elevated vantage point across the street from the 36th Street entrance with Fifth Avenue stretching into the distance. The view of Herald Square is centered on the front of the Herald Building at the intersection of 34^th Street, Sixth Avenue and Broadway. A sign on the building advertises the Rogers Peet clothing store. The former elevated railway known as the Sixth Avenue El is shown, which dates these prints to between 1936, when the Empire State Building opened, and 1939, when demolition of the El began. The Savoy Plaza and Netherland Hotel are shown from the lake at Central Park. The Grand Central Terminal view is drawn from street level. These views are apparently scarce. We were unable to locate any other examples of them or publications by this firm.

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