Artist: George Heap

Artist: George Heap, American, 1714–1752, An East Prospective View Of the City of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, In North America: taken from the Jersey Shore, Colored line engraving, sheet: 27.31 × 42.23 cm (10 3/4 × 16 5/8 in.), Boston and Philadelphia, two of the most important North American cities in the eighteenth century, were both maritime and commercial centers. Their harbors figure significantly in these two engravings (see 1946.9.1743), not just because the open water offered an unobstructed vista but also because the harbors played a dominant role in the cities’ economic welfare. The many ships and boats shown riding at anchor in each harbor and the numerous buildings lining each shore are signs of Boston’s and Philadelphia’s prosperity. Dominating the skylines are the church spires, which not only were the tallest structures of their time but also give concrete evidence of the spiritual character of each city. , Made in United States, American, 18th century, Works on Paper - Prints. (Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)