Perspective View of Boston Harbor [engraving]

The 1904 framed engraving by Sidney Lawton Smith (1845-1929) illustrates a panoramic perspective view of Boston Harbor. The scene is modeled after an original watercolor by artist Christian Remick, entitled, “A Perspective View of the Blockad[e] of Boston Harbour.” The engraving appears to depict the arrival of the British Army’s 14th regiment, disembarking in Boston on October 1, 1768. The British soldiers were deployed to Boston to keep order in face of the growing discontent with the heavy taxes imposed by the Townshend Act, which placed tariffs on a variety of common items that were manufactured in Britain and imported in the colonies. Each ship in the engraving is identified with a number and a left top cartouche identifies the ship and island. The print is hand-colored and has a decorative flag and scroll cartouche in the upper right corner with an inscription to John Hancock. Below the print is the inscription, “Engraved by Sidney L. Smith for twenty-two members of the Club of Odd Volumes, From the original watercolor by Christian Remick. One hundred copies printed January 1904.”