John Caspar Wild's Views of Philadelphia
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J. Caspar Wild was a Swiss artist who studied in Paris, and then came to Philadelphia around 1831. Soon after, he moved to Cincinnati and then back to Philadelphia in 1837. At that time, Wild formed a partnership with J.B. Chevalier to publish a series of small lithographs illustrating the city of Philadelphia. The intent was to sell the prints inexpensively, at a rate of 25 cents for two images, and this was done in part in conjunction with the Saturday Courier, which used the prints in its promotions. The prints came out in five monthly numbers of four views each in 1838, and when the twenty scenes were completed they were sold in a bound volume.
This was the third general series of views of Philadelphia to be issued, and the first using the process of lithography. In the 1830s, the citizens of Philadelphia were in the midst of a great building boom, with many beautiful public and private buildings appearing around the city, designed in the Gothic and Classical styles by such architects as William Strickland, John Haviland, and T.U. Walter. Wild's portfolio is perhaps the finest contemporary document of Philadelphia's new appearance, for all but three of his twenty views were of recently constructed buildings. Despite its quality and inexpensive cost, the series was not a success for Wild, and in the same year of its publication he left Philadelphia to move to the mid-west, sick and dispirited. The stones were acquired by J.T. Bowen, who had just moved to Philadelphia to complete the work on the McKenney & Hall Indian portfolio, and Bowen printed another run of the prints in 1838 with his name as publisher. Though Wild stayed only a short time in the city, he managed to draw and lithograph twenty-eight excellent views of Philadelphia.
The following prints by J.C. Wild are all approximately 5 x 7 inches (image) and 9 1/4 x 10 3/4 (full sheet). All are uncolored, as issued and in very good condition except where otherwise noted.
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