Monte Video, Residence of D. Wadsworth near Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1850

This original antique steel engraving, uncolored, is lettered "MONTE VIDEO THE RESIDENCE OF D. WADSWORTH, ESQ.R NEAR HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT", the last line in italic capitals. A long wooded hill rises to the right, with a slender tower standing on its summit above a rocky face. At the left, in a clearing among the trees, sits a white house with a castellated roof line, and a lone figure walks across the meadow nearby. A small lake at the lower right reflects a sailboat and two figures on its shore, and in the left foreground a man sits on a rocky bank looking out over the scene. Low hills and a pale sky close the distance.

Above the view a small uncaptioned emblem shows a squirrel on a branch with its tail curled up. A border of scrolls and flowers holds two vignettes. At the lower left settlers with horses, cattle and sheep wade through water, lettered "EMIGRATION FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 1636." At the lower right Native American warriors with hatchets and bows struggle over a fallen man, lettered "DEATH OF SASSACUS THE PEGNOD CHIEF." with the period spelling "PEGNOD". No artist or engraver is credited under the view. The imprint reads "J. & F. TALLIS, LONDON & NEW YORK."

The plate was issued in History of the United States of America, edited by John Howard Hinton (1791 to 1873), the English Baptist minister and author. 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. Sassacus was a leader of the Pequot people, and settlers moved from Massachusetts to the Connecticut River valley in 1636.

A peaceful wooded landscape that suits a quiet room.

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