New York City Hall by Pavel Svinin

The City Hall, looking east from Broadway, about 1812. Watercolor on paper by Russian writer and painter Pavel Svinin. Source: The Virtual Russian Museum.

Pavel Petrovich Svinin (1787-1839) was employed at the Russian consulate in Philadelphia between 1811 and 1813. As secretary to the Russian diplomatic representative, he painted a number of watercolors of life in America. Later he published the book Voyage Pittoresque Aux Etats-Unis de l'Amérique par Paul Svignine en 1811, 1812, et 1813.

The New York City Hall was built from 1803 to 1812.