The Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia 1811 - 1816

Pavel Petrovich Svinin created this watercolor painting of "The Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia." Svinin, a Russian artist who traveled to America, captures the hospital's architecture with a delicate hand. Consider the historical context: this hospital, founded in 1751, was one of the first in the United States. It aimed to treat the sick and, significantly, to provide care for the mentally ill. The painting invites us to reflect on the history of medical care and how society has approached mental health. What narratives are embedded in the architecture itself? The imposing structure speaks to the ambitions of the institution, yet it also prompts questions about who had access to such care.