American Revolution
c. 1776 “Vue d’Optique” of a New York Wall Street Fire
c. 1776 Revolutionary War Period, Hand-Colored Optical Print entitled, “Representation du feu terrile a Nouvelle Yorck,” published by Basset in Paris, repairs, Extremely Fine.
This original Hand-Colored Print was published by Basset in Paris, c. 1776 after the NYC fire of September 19, 1776. This is an optical print, also called a “vue optique” or “vue d’optique” which were made to be viewed through a Zograscope, or other devices of convex lens and mirrors, all of which produced an optical illusion of depth. This dynamic action Print measures 16.5” x 11.8” with its image size 15” x 9.1” having vivid colors and printed text in black both at top and below the fire scene itself.

This colorful, historic Print depicts several buildings along a busy New York City street fully engulfed in flames at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street. This fire actually occurred on September 19, 1776. Depicted in the scene is the great conflagration that destroyed as many as 1,600 homes, churches and schools in British-occupied New York City during the Revolutionary War. The Americans were blamed for starting the fire in a “scorched earth” policy after the Battle of Harlem Heights to prevent the British from enjoying or benefiting from their stay in New York. Several loin-clothed black men are seen carrying possessions from burning homes and businesses. Also depicted are incidents where blue-coated soldiers wearing tri-cornered hats are killing men and mugging others who are attempting to put out the fire with buckets of water. It includes two lines of text in French that list some of the buildings destroyed by the fire: “near the Exchange, in “Broock” St., near Kings College, the Trinity Church, the Lutheran chapel and the school for the poor.” Several small sealed tears in the margins, one larger tear on the right extending 2’ into the image restored with early paper upon the blank back, remargined. Overall, everything appears well presented with one of the finest, most colorful Revolutionary War action events we have seen. This print is fully on par with the Vue d’Optique of the “Landing of the English Troops at New York” that we sold in our March 15, 1997 Sale, Lot 500, which realized $5,750. Ready for framing and display.