The Rotunda, City Hall Park, New York
Anonymous, American, 19th century American
Relates to John Vanderlyn American
Relates to a book by John Flavel Mines American
Not on view
This print illustrated John Flavel Mines's book, "A tour around New York and my summer acre: being the recreations of Mr. Felix Oldboy" (New York, 1893). By that date, the Rotunda no longer existed. It had been constructed in 1818 at the northeast corner of City Hall Park, measured fifty-six feet in diameter, and was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. New York City leased the site free of charge to the artist John Vanderlyn, and donations from John Jacob Astor helped fund the structure which was designed to display Vanderlyn's panorama “The Palace and Gardens of Versailles" (MMA, 52.184). Opened in May 1820, the latter remained on view through 1829, with intermittent tours scheduled to help recoup Vanderlyn's considerable financial outlay. Panoramas by other artists were shown during those absences and, once Vanderlyn lost his lease, the building was used for a range of artistic and government functions before being demolished in 1870 (see 54.90.724 for further details).
