A Prospective View of Old Newgate, Connecticut's State Prison
MakerMade by
Richard Brunton
Anglo-American, 1749 - 1832
Datec. 1800
MediumInk on paper; line engraving
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 20 9/16 × 20 3/16in. (52.2 × 51.3cm)
Frame (height x width): 30 × 28in. (76.2 × 71.1cm)
Frame (height x width): 30 × 28in. (76.2 × 71.1cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Charles T. Wells
DescriptionEngraving titled “A Prospective View of Old Newgate, Connecticut’s State Prison.” Attributed to Richard Brunton (1749-1832). This engraving, probably done while Brunton was incarcerated at Newgate Prison for counterfeiting, depicts a pictorial, birds-eye view of the daily routine inside Newgate Prison.
It illustrates the various structures in the prison complex, with eleven features identified with a numeric key in the lower right. The structures are the Commandant’s apartment, guard room, work shop, store for nails, bake house, cole [coal] house, smith’s shop, well, entrance gate, the pickets and inclosure [enclosure] of prison, and path leading from the work shop to the caverns.
Two figures in the upper right are making barrels and another figure at the bottom right is bringing a completed barrel to a shed. Two figures in the lower half that appear to be African American are carrying buckets. These two figures are completely blackened. In the upper right a prisoner is receiving a lashing from a prison guard. A figure on the right is retrieving water from the well.
The seal of the State of Connecticut is illustrated in the upper left of the plan within the enclosure.
The fence that surrounds the prison is represented by a border of domino-like rectangles; their regularity broken by a few objects that intrude into the frame. An intertwined floral vine decorates three sides of the border. The bottom border depicts a pastoral hunting scene of dogs in pursuit of deer.
It illustrates the various structures in the prison complex, with eleven features identified with a numeric key in the lower right. The structures are the Commandant’s apartment, guard room, work shop, store for nails, bake house, cole [coal] house, smith’s shop, well, entrance gate, the pickets and inclosure [enclosure] of prison, and path leading from the work shop to the caverns.
Two figures in the upper right are making barrels and another figure at the bottom right is bringing a completed barrel to a shed. Two figures in the lower half that appear to be African American are carrying buckets. These two figures are completely blackened. In the upper right a prisoner is receiving a lashing from a prison guard. A figure on the right is retrieving water from the well.
The seal of the State of Connecticut is illustrated in the upper left of the plan within the enclosure.
The fence that surrounds the prison is represented by a border of domino-like rectangles; their regularity broken by a few objects that intrude into the frame. An intertwined floral vine decorates three sides of the border. The bottom border depicts a pastoral hunting scene of dogs in pursuit of deer.
Object number1859.3.0
InscribedPrinted in black beneath top border: "A PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF OLD NEWGATE Connecticut's STATE PRISON"Printed in black above bottom border on left: "The subterranean Vault over which this place was wrought about / the middle of the 17th Century for the purpose of obtaining Copper Ore. the open / ing into those Gloomy Caverns is a Desent of 35 feet; from thence Desending / in various Serpentine Directions 75 Yards opens to the Well is in depth 74 / feet from the Surface to the Water."
Printed in black above bottom border on right: "1. The Commandants apartment 2. the Guard Room 3. the work / shop 4. the store for Nails 5. the Bake house 6. the Cole house 7. / the Smith's shop 8. the Well 9. the gate for Entrance 10. the Pick / ets & inclosure of the Prison 11. the path leading from the work / shop to the Caverns"
On View
Not on view
ca. 1950
