Country Seats

Introduction

As Birch travelled up and down the coast distributing copies of his city views, he visited many country homes, hoping to build up his landscape architecture business, and also sketching the ones that pleased him for a projected view book that would hopefully reprise the success of his Delices de la Grande Bretagne.

Most Americans then agreed that the ideal country property was a farmhouse surrounded by fertile fields, a scene of virtuous labor.  Birch’s ideal was a tastefully designed gentleman’s house perfectly situated in a picturesque landscape, a scene of leisure and reflection that would help form the national character. In this he was both ahead of his time and out of step with its values.  Sales of the new book were not brisk. 

Today, however, we can see The Country Seats as the first of a host of color-plate books of American scenery. Birch also seems to have been the first person to appreciate the landscape of the Schuylkill River, and he is thus a key figure in the preservation of many historic houses and in the creation of Fairmount Park.  And finally, as different as the city and the country views were, today we can see them as a masterpiece in two movements: the first attempt to create a comprehensive visual record of any American city, including both its urban center and its picturesque surroundings.

Title page with several lines of printed text and landscape view of winding river with tree-lined banks.

Blue cover page with several lines of printed text

William Birch, The Country Seats of the United States of North America … Part the First.  (Philadelphia, 1809).  Library Company of Philadelphia.

This is the first trade edition of The Country Seats, with an engraved hand-colored title page featuring a “View from Springland.”  Its original blue paper wrapper is bound in. The preface presents Birch’s ideal of the country seat and its role in forming the national character. 

Lanscape view view of river winding along tree-lined banks. Woman stands in foreground

William Birch, View from Springland, ca. 1808.  Watercolor. Library Company of Philadelphia. David Doret and Linda G. Mitchell Collection.

This is the original watercolor used to engrave the title page of the first trade edition. Note that here the vegetation has spring-like colors, whereas hand coloring in the trade edition is fall-like.

Two buildings stand at water's edge surrounded by trees. A few men gather outside smaller building

William Birch, Bath, near Bristol, Pennsylvania, engraving in The Port Folio, (Philadelphia, June 1811).  Library Company of Philadelphia.

The format and subject of Birch’s Country Seats was to some degree anticipated by the many engravings of picturesque landscapes that appeared in earlier American magazines, including this view taken near Birch’s home, by Birch himself.  The scene is not a private home, but a public country hotel near a mineral spring.

Large residence with open front porch stands on grassy knoll above body of water. Three women are on porch

William Birch, Andalusia, ca. 1808. Watercolor. Library Company of Philadelphia. Bequest of Charles A. Poulson.

This view of Andalusia, the still-standing Biddle family house, may have been intended for The Country Seats. It raises the possibility that Birch drew the other views in a larger size and reduced them in the engravings.  He may have done this to make the book cheaper and easier to bind and transport, or he may simply have preferred to work in miniature, a style in which he had already had success.

Two-storied classical style residence stands on expanse of grass. Several figures and dogs stroll in foreground

William Birch, Lansdowne, the seat of the late Wm. Bingham Esq. Pennsylvania (Philadelphia,1809).  Hand-colored engraving.  Library Company of Philadelphia. Gift of S. Marguerite Brenner.

Lansdowne was considered by many to be the best country house in America. William Bingham was fabulously wealthy; his wife Anne Willing Bingham was the hostess of the Federalist era “Republican Court.” 

Birch wrote:  Lansdowne lies on the bank of the Pastoral Schuylkill, a stream of peculiar beauty, deservedly the delight and boast of the shores it fertilizes. The house was built upon a handsome and correct plan by the former governor Penn.

Buildings visible on both sides of narrow body of water in landscape setting. Flat bottomed vessel carrying horse and two figures crosses water

William Birch, Mendenhall Ferry, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1809). Hand-colored engraving. Library Company of Philadelphia. Gift of S. Marguerite Brenner.

This is the only country view showing a public building, but in its celebration of the Schuylkill River scenery it is related to many of the other views. 

Birch wrote: This beautiful spot close upon the falls of Schuylkill is one of nature’s choicest retreats. Mr. Mendenhall has opened his house for public entertainments.
Landscape view with rolling hills and trees and river winding through background

William Birch, View from Belmont, Pennsyla, the seat of Judge Peters (Philadelphia, 1809). Hand-colored engraving.  Library Company of Philadelphia, Gift of S. Marguerite Brenner.

Birch wrote: It is impossible for the artist, who has fixed his attention on the various beauties of Schuylkill, to leave the study of its charms. Here you pass from the wild romantic scene; the rugged stone with wood and water bound to expand the sight from this high lifted lawn, to view in open space the world below, the riches of the richest state; the big metropolis in the woods, the chequered country with her merchants’ seats; the bustle of agriculture, and the verdant banks of the fluid mirror that reflects the sky; and further on to view Mount Holly mingled with the air in Jersey. The whole a soft and visionary scene.

Building including many columns and large windows located on hill among scattered trees

William Birch, Sedgley the Seat of Mr. Wm. Crammond (Philadelphia, 1809). Engraving. Library Company of Philadelphia.

Sedgley, designed by Benjamin Latrobe (1764-1820), was the first gothic house built in America.  This plate is not colored; Birch offered the book and the plates in both states.  In this state you can easily see the stipple dots that Birch added in places to all the country views, to imitate the texture of watercolor.

Birch wrote: This beautiful gothic structure, which so happily graces the luxuriant banks of Schuylkill … whose gentle stream courses lowly and humble, amidst romantic woods, gently descending lawns and caverned rocks.

View of front and side façade of two story building with dormer windows. Man and dog near tree in foreground

Edward W. Clay after Cephas Grier Childs, Sedgley Park (Philadelphia: C. G. Childs, 1828).  Etched by J. W. Steel and W. H. Hay. Engraving. Library Company of Philadelphia. McAllister Collection.

In 1827 C.G. Childs began publishing in parts a sort of sequel to Birch’s The City of Philadelphia, called Views of Philadelphia and its Environs, showing buildings erected in more recent years.  It included a view of Sedgley from a different angle than Birch’s, but otherwise much the same. This highlights how profound Birch’s influence was on the next generation of artists.

Two lines of manuscript text

William Birch, Birch’s privat Sett [of Country Seats of US,] with variations and additions, intended to be continued but no encouragement (Philadelphia, ca. 1820).  Library Company of Philadelphia. Anonymous gift.

In about 1820, Birch made this scrapbook mockup for a proposed new, expanded edition of The Country Seats.  The inscription on the fly leaf expresses his profound disappointment at its failure. The mockup includes copies of many of the plates in the trade edition pasted in, followed by three charming original watercolors which must represent some of the proposed additions.

Partial view of classical-style building in foreground. Small buildings in background beyond trees and water.

William Birch, Analostun, or Mason’s Island, with one wing of the House, at Georgetown, and two of Mr. Custus’s in the distance. Watercolor. Library Company of Philadelphia. Anonymous gift. 

John Mason built a Greek revival country seat in the 1790s on the island across the Potomac from Georgetown. In 1806 one wing of the house burned, which must be why Birch shows only part of it. George Washington Park Custis was Washington’s stepson, and his house, dimly seen in the distance, is the site of Arlington National Cemetery.
Landscape of water and trees including building located on bank high above the water

William Birch, Point Breeze. The Residence of Joseph Bonapart, at Bordentown on the Delaware.  Watercolor. Library Company of Philadelphia. Anonymous gift.

Joseph Bonaparte (1768-1844), Napoleon’s older brother, bought a house at Bordentown, New Jersey in 1816, which burned in 1820 and was quickly rebuilt in a grand style.  The landscaped park was even more spectacular, however, and that is the subject of this watercolor sketch. 

Water runs towards multi-storied industrial building containing two water wheels on side façade. Building surrounded by trees and rolling hills

William Birch, The Mill and House of Mr. E. Esirel, late Sheriff of Phila., Near Christien.  Watercolor, Library Company of Philadelphia. Anonymous gift.

This final, charming view suggests an entirely new direction for The Country Seats, a functional building in a rustic setting. Israel Israel was the Sheriff of Philadelphia in 1805-6.

Book opened to page of manuscript text listing individuals' names

William Birch, Page from his Book of Profitts. Library Company of Philadelphia.

By 1828 Birch had only enough plates left over to issue a second edition with twelve plates at a reduced price.  He found only twenty subscribers, two of whom returned their copies and one who bartered in exchange for a hat.

Excerpt from Birch’s Manuscript Autobiography:
This country is new and flourishing. The mechanical arts are at their highest pitch, but the fine arts are of another complexion. They are the last polish of a refined nation. … I do not profess myself a member of the fine arts; I am a copyist only, but from my knowledge of them have been allowed judgement and taste, which is competent to give me a relish for them.