Brooklyn has changed quite a lot since Francis Guy painted this corner of the newly incorporated village in 1820.
It’s one of two very similar paintings showing almost the same bustling winter scene at Front Street between Main and Fulton Streets, near the Fulton Ferry dock.
The Brooklyn Museum owns one of the two paintings. The museum website features a fascinating key that identifies who these shopkeepers and village residents are.
You’ll recognize many of the names—such as Rapelje, Middagh, Hicks, and Patchen—as they continue to live on in borough street signs and park plaques.
Tags: A Winter Scene in Brooklyn, Brooklyn in 1820, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Street, DUMBO street, famous people from Brooklyn, Francis Guy, Fulton Ferry Brooklyn, old Brooklyn, Village of Brooklyn
Ephemeral New York 
January 30, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
This painting is fantastic. What a wonderful scene. Thanks for sharing it.
January 30, 2012 at 3:53 pm |
It’s like a who’s who of old-time Brooklyn!
March 16, 2012 at 9:26 pm |
Click to access 111a.pdf
This is a great document with a map and information on the people in this scene.
August 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm |
tbis is a good painting
January 17, 2013 at 11:18 pm |
The painting at the Brooklyn Museum was damaged in a fire and about 20% of the scene was lost from the left side. The Museum of the City of New York has a copy of the original, painted by the granddaughter of Augustus Graham, which is complete.
The New York Public Library has a copy of the same scene in summer with no people in it.
March 27, 2013 at 7:48 am |
[…] If you’re wondering what things looked like at street level, this wonderful painting of a cold winter’s day on Front Street will give you a closeup view. […]