First Bank of the United States, Philadelphia
1859
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1859
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a grand neoclassical building with big columns and a dome. It’s a warm-toned cityscape with sharp details, almost like a marble mansion. The artist used photography’s precision to capture the bank’s quiet power in 1859. Richards trained as a painter but switched to photography. Early cameras couldn’t hold much light, so this shot’s rich tones were rare back then. The bank itself was newsworthy—it was America’s first, built in 1797. Check out Frederick DeBourg Richards (American, 1822–1903) for more of his architectural photos.
