St. John's College Fordham, New York

Art Historical Context

This lithograph, created between 1846 and 1851 by William Rodrigue and Francis Michelin, offers a charming view of St. John’s College in Fordham, New York—now part of Fordham University in the Bronx. The scene captures the college’s early campus buildings nestled among trees, with figures of men, women, and students engaged in leisurely activities. Produced as a lithograph with a tint stone, the print combines precise line work with subtle tonal coloring, a technique that allowed artists to create affordable yet evocative images for a growing audience interested in American landmarks. St. John’s College was founded in 1841 by Jesuits, and this print dates to its formative years, when the institution was establishing itself amid the rural landscape north of Manhattan. Such views played an important role in documenting the expansion of educational and religious institutions during the mid-nineteenth century, helping to promote the college to potential students and benefactors. Today, the work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of New York prints, maps, and pictures, donated as part of the Edward W. C. Arnold bequest. It serves as both an artistic record and a window into the early life of one of New York’s oldest universities.

About the Artist

William Rodrigue|Francis Michelin (American|American) · 1800 |1844 –1867 |1858

American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1800–1867 New York|American, born England, active in New York, New York 1844–1858