James Hamilton, View of Philadelphia

View of Philadelphia is a dynamic depiction of the harbor and the US Navy Yard at Wharton Street in the Southwark section of the city. In 1801, this area was chosen to be the first government-owned shipyard in the United States. It served this function until 1864, at which time, due to the Navy’s expanding needs, a new site was proposed and construction began on what is now the Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. Steamboats, recreational vessels, and military ships share the harbor. The long diagonal lines found in the sweep of the bobbing ships’ sails, the crashing waves, and the seething clouds add energy to the painting. As rays of sunlight penetrate the image, Hamilton deftly captures the drama of light passing through the clouds in a stormy sky.

Hamilton captures the bustling, commercial port of Philadelphia around the year 1850. Many of the historic buildings he depicts can be identified. Toward the left side of the painting are Philadelphia’s famous “twinship houses,” which were built in 1821 and demolished in the late 19th century. On the right, the white spire of Christ Church is visible. Constructed in 1744, the nearly 200-foot-spire was the tallest structure in the United States during most of Hamilton’s lifetime, and it was a primary landmark for those sailing along the Delaware River.