San Fernando Cathedral [Stereoview]
Name/Title
San Fernando Cathedral [Stereoview]Description
Stereograph featuring a rear view of San Fernando Cathedral from the Military Plaza. Dated circa 1875-1885 due to the orange mount that includes "F. HARDESTY. PHOTO." printed in black on left and "SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS" printed in black on the right. Frank Hardesty's San Antonio, TX, imprint on recto. Stamped on verso: "Setereoscopic Views, / of / San Antonio, Texas / F. Hardesty Photographer" Below that there is a chart that lists a variety of other locations that stereoscopes had been made by this company. Below the chart, stamped it reads: "All from Original Negatives and Guaranteed the Finest / ever Made in the South. Also A Large Variety of Miscellaneous Views / of San Antonio, and Vicinity." Below that reads, "Parties wishing Special Views made anywhere will please address:- / F. Hardesty / 32 North Flores Street. (near Military Plaza,) / San Antonio, Texas."Context
Herman Ehrenbergh fought in the Texas Revolution in 1835-1836. Years later he told of a Mexican cannon on the roof of San Fernando Church which commanded a view of the Texans' assault on San Antonio's main plaza: "Our twelve-pounder battered the roof of the church-a Brunswickian called Langenheim was in charge of our artillery piece when it's projectiles demolished part of the church dome. Unwilling to destroy this venerable monument entirely, we ceased shelling it. Easy marks for the enemy, almost all of the gunners had been severely wounded-the tall, good-looking Brunswickian had miraculously escaped the fate of his comrades." The Brunswickian went on to Philadelphia and fame in stereography. The parish church of San Fernando remained to become a popular subject for stereographers thirty years later.Category
Texas in Focus: Early Photographs from the Lew Anvil Texas Collection