William Russell Birch (Pennsylvania/United Kingdom,1755-1834) hand-colored, copperplate engraving on wove paper, titled "Preparation for War to Defend Commerce." Depicts the building of the Frigate Philadelphia in dry-dock in Joshus Humphrey's shipyard in Pennsylvania, just before the war between the United States and Tripoli (also known as the First Barbary War). Signature, title, and publication information lower left, center, and right, below the image. Housed with reverse painted, ebonized mat under glass in a giltwood frame. Plate: 11 1/4" H x 13 1/2" W. Sheet: 13" H x 14 3/4" H. Frame: 14 3/8" H x 16 1/8" W. Biography: William Russell Birch was born in Warwickshire, England, and built a successful career as an enamel miniaturist and engraver of topographical perspectives of London. Upon coming to America in the 1790s, Birch began his series of prints "The City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania as it Appeared in 1800" with the help of his son Thomas Birch. This series was the first extensive depiction of the city in American art, exemplifying its commerce, growth, and picturesque topography. (Source: "William Birch's City of Philadelphia: The Politics of the Picturesque and Urban Life in the Early Republic" by John S. Hallam in the Journal of American Culture, Vol. 20, Iss. 4, Winter 1997)

PROVENANCE: The Estate of Raymond White, Nashville, Tennessee.

CONDITION: Scattered foxing spots and discoloration with some waviness to paper; minute spots of errant ink lower right corner and above figures. Some minor tears and losses to corners of sheet, largest measuring 3/8" x 1/4". Tape residue and some staining/remnants of previous mounting to paper, but paper is not currently glued down. Frame with scattered losses to gilt and some slight chips to wood.