Capitol West Front, Washington, with Battle of Trenton Vignette, circa 1850

This is an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, lettered in a framed panel below the view "CAPITOL OF THE U.S. WASHINGTON." with "WEST FRONT" in italic capitals beneath. The Capitol is seen at an angle from below a sloping lawn: a projecting center with a recessed colonnade above a rusticated ground floor and a long flight of steps, a broad low dome behind, and a wing with a smaller dome at right. A path crosses the grass toward the building, and in the foreground a girl stands on the slope, a woman with a parasol walks with a child, and a dog runs across the grass.

The uncaptioned emblem above the view is a sword laid through a laurel wreath, with a tasseled sword knot. Below at left, "WASHINGTON REFUSING LORD HOWE'S LETTER." shows Washington in uniform standing by a chair and gesturing away a letter held out by an officer, with a man seated at a table behind. At right, "BATTLE OF TRENTON." shows mounted officers urging on a line of soldiers advancing with bayonets under a flag. No artist or engraver credit is lettered under the view. The imprint at the foot reads "J & F. TALLIS, LONDON, EDINBURGH & DUBLIN."

The plate belongs to the History of the United States of America, edited by John Howard Hinton (1791 to 1873), the English Baptist minister and author, and published by J. and F. Tallis about 1850. J. and F. Tallis were London publishers of illustrated works sold in parts around the middle of the nineteenth century, and the plates of this edition set a central steel engraved view inside an engraved ornamental border with small lettered vignettes of episodes from American history. The Battle of Trenton, fought in December 1776, was a victory for Washington's army over the garrison holding the town.

Paired with the companion view of the Capitol from the other side, it makes a good set for a Washington collection.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.