Englishman William Breton arrived in Philadelphia in the mid-1820s and soon launched a career as an artist painting scenes of the city’s past. John Fanning Watson’s Annals of Philadelphia, first published in 1830, included many of the views as illustrations. Here Breton has depicted the residence known as the Slate Roof House which served as William Penn’s home from 1699 through 1701. Located on South Second Street just below Chestnut Street, the residence was originally built in the late 17th century for Philadelphia merchant Samuel Carpenter. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania recognized the building’s historical significance and in 1864 attempted to raise funds to save it from demolition. Despite good intentions, the efforts failed and the Slate Roof House was demolished in 1867. This watercolor along with four other William Breton watercolors was given to the Library Company of Philadelphia in 2011 by Marshall Potamkin in memory of his mother Vivian Potamkin.

The following people correctly identified the image:
Susan Branson
Richard Di Stefano
Nancy J. Halli
Steve Harlen
Ray Holstein
Laura C. Keim
Bill Kriebel
Carol Livesey
Karen Nipps
Richard Tyler
Dell Upton
Carmen D. Valentino
Glenys A. Waldman

Sarah Weatherwax
Curator of Prints & Photographs