Williamsburg Female Academy

Dateca. 1850

Lithographed by Peter S. Duval ca. 1804/5 - 1889

After work by William F. Grabau 1824 - 1897

OriginUnited States, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumLithograph print with watercolor

DimensionsOverall: 15 1/8 × 19 7/8 in (38.42 × 50.48cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-606

DescriptionThe lower margin reads, "Williamsburg Female Academy./ Virginia./ Drawn by W. F. Grabau./ P.S. Duval's Steam lith. Press Philad."Label TextThis lithograph depicts the Williamsburg Female Academy, a boarding and day school based in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school taught a variety of subjects to young women, specializing in English, Foreign Languages (particularly French), and Music (Piano or Guitar). The school was located at the site of the Capitol building after the Capitol was torn down in 1793. Opening in 1849, the school operated at that site until 1861, when Union soldiers burned the school to the ground during the Civil War.

William F. Grabau (1824-1897) drew this lithograph. Grabau was possibly a music teacher at the academy and was colleague of the academy’s principal from 1849 to 1853, Hubert P. Lefebvre. Grabau later moved to Richmond to work at Lefebvre’s new boarding school, serving as music teacher of piano, organ, and sacred music. This lithograph might have been used to advertise the school to prospective parents and students. The print was created by Peter S. Duval (ca. 1804/5-1886), a French-born lithographer based in Philadelphia. Starting in the 1840s, Duval ran a very successful lithographic firm and became one of the first American lithographers to use steam power. Around the time this print was created, Duval housed his large firm in a six-room suite, employing 60-70 artists with nearly 30 presses.ProvenanceBefore 1930, Mr. R. A. Travis (Danville, VA); 1930-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).