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The image depicts a densely packed urban space with buildings and enclosed yards, viewed from an elevated angle. The buildings dominate the composition, with various tones of reddish-brown suggesting brickwork. Fine brushstrokes detail the buildings and their shadows, with a wooden fence and outbuildings in the foreground. In the distance, rooftops and a tree with dark foliage are visible against a pale blue sky. The color palette is primarily earthy tones, creating a historic atmosphere.
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The image depicts a densely packed urban space with buildings and enclosed yards, viewed from an elevated angle. The buildings dominate the composition, with various tones of reddish-brown suggesting brickwork. Fine brushstrokes detail the buildings and their shadows, with a wooden fence and outbuildings in the foreground. In the distance, rooftops and a tree with dark foliage are visible against a pale blue sky. The color palette is primarily earthy tones, creating a historic atmosphere.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A View from an East Window in the Old Sugar House, No.3 Norris' Alley, Philadelphia

American 19th Century

Date
1811
Medium
pen and ink with watercolor on paperboard
Dimensions
sheet: 8 × 12.2 cm (3 1/8 × 4 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1964.8.1759
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1801 to 1825
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • exterior
  • architecture
  • Urban scene
  • PA
  • Philadelphia
Inscription

lower right on wall: JD; upper center verso in brown ink: No.5. / A View from an East Window in the old Sugar House No3.Norris's Alley / Philadelphia.; lower right verso in brown ink: April.1811.; uRv//in graphite: [T6?] 7120.2; lCv//in graphite: From 68 S. Front to 87 Second-1811 /

NGA object ID 49027. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.