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1984-47, Print
A View of Bethlem, the Great Moravian Settlement in the Province of PENNSYLVANIA.
1984-47, Print

A View of Bethlem, the Great Moravian Settlement in the Province of PENNSYLVANIA.

Date1761
Engraver Paul Sandby (1725-1809)
After work by Thomas Pownall (1722-1805)
Publisher John Bowles (1701 - 1779)
Publisher Robert Sayer (1725-1794)
Publisher Thomas Jefferys (ca. 1719 - 1771)
Publisher Carington Bowles (1724 - 1793)
Publisher Henry Parker (ca. 1725 - 1809)
MediumLine engraving and etching on laid paper
DimensionsOverall: 17 11/16 × 23 1/16in. (44.9 × 58.6cm) Other (Plate): 36.2 × 53cm (14 1/4 × 20 7/8in.)
Credit LineAnonymous gift
Object number1984-47
DescriptionThe lower margin reads: "A View of Bethlem, the Great Moravian Settlement in the Province of/ PENNSYLVANIA./ Vue de Bethlem, principal Etablissement des Freres Moraves dans la Province de/ PENNSYLVANIA./ Sketch'd on the SPOT by his Excellency Governor Pownal. Painted and Engraved by Paul Sandby./ London, Printed for John Bowles at N.o 13, in Cornhill, Robert Sayer at N.o 53, in Fleet Street, Tho.s Jefferys the Corner of S.t Martins Lane in the Strand, Carington Bowles at N.o 69, in S.t Paul's Church Yard, and Henry Parker at N.o 82 in Cornhill."

Label TextThe print depicts the community of Bethlehem where Moravians settled largely due to the reputation of religious freedom that Pennsylvania had cultivated. This print is from a series of twenty-eight prints of American scenes published under the title Scenographia Americana in 1768. The images range widely in content and geographical location, depicting the military structures at Port Royal in Guadeloupe as well as the wilderness of Passaic Falls in New Jersey. Many of the prints commemorated sites where the English were victorious during the Seven Year’s War, and were the first, large, accurate, and elaborately engraved series of views of America.