A View of Castle William by Boston in New England
early 18th century
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 12 3/16 × 12 11/16 in. (30.9 × 32.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
Accession Number
24.90.41
Tags
Art Historical Context
William Burgis’s “A View of Castle William by Boston in New England” captures an early eighteenth-century scene of colonial Boston’s harbor defenses. Created through the combined techniques of etching and engraving, the print offers a detailed panorama that highlights the fort’s strategic position amid bustling maritime activity. Flags flutter above the ramparts while ships and smaller boats navigate the waters, reflecting the vital role of sea trade and military protection in early American settlements. Prints like this one were essential for sharing images of the New World with audiences ac...