Study for the plate, "The View from Springland," published in Birch's "Country Seats of the United States," showing the gated lush grounds of Springland, William Birch's Pennsylvania country home near Neshaminy Creek in Bucks County from 1798 to 1818. Birch sold the property in 1805, continue to dwell on the grounds, and repurchased the estate in 1813. View includes an abandoned bridge and abandoned toll house. The toll house puportedly converted by Birch into his studio., Bequest of Charles Poulson, 1866., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., See Martin Snyder's "William Birch: His Country Seats of the United States" The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 81 (July 1957), p. 225-254., Originally part of a Poulson scrapbook., Reproduced in Julius Sachse's Pictures of old Philadelphia from the originals in the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1901), vol. 1, plate 48. (LCP Print Room Albums).
Creator
Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834, artist
Date
[ca. 1808]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department drawings & watercolors - Birch - Springland Cot [P.8759.3]
View, probably created as a study intended for later publication in the artist's "Country Seats," showing the Bucks County estate on the Delaware River originally purchased in 1795 by Philadelphia merchant John Craig, procured around 1814 by his son-in-law Nicholas Biddle. Originally named Craig's Hall, the federal-style mansion was renovated and altered from 1797-1798; 1806-1808 (by Benjamin Henry Latrobe); and 1836-1838 (by Thomas U. Walter). Depicts a sideview, shortly after the Latrobe alterations, of the front elevation of the mansion and the grounds of the estate, including a small summer house. Three women convene on the covered porch. Also includes a view of sailboats on the river., Title supplied by cataloguer., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited., See William Snyder's "William Birch: His Country Seats of the United States" The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 81 (July 1957), p. 225-254., Described in Nicholas B. Wainwright's "Andalusia countryseat of the Craig Family and of Nicholas Biddle and his descendants" The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 101 (January 1977), p. 27., Reproduced in Julius Sachse's Pictures of old Philadelphia from the originals in the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1901), vol. 1, plate 47. (LCP Print Room Albums)
Creator
Birch, William Russell, 1755-1834, artist
Date
[ca. 1808]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department drawings & watercolors - Birch - Andalusia [P.9665]
