When Joshua Shaw emigrated to Philadelphia in 1817, he was enamored by America. He decided to travel the country to capture its majesty in a folio of prints titled: Picturesque Views of American Scenery. In the folio he attempted to render the "correct delineations of some of the most prominent beauties of notable scenery," all of which were to be etched by John Hill (it was his first commission in America). The artists' intent was to issue the prints by subscription in six sets of six views each. In the end, only eighteen of the planned thirty-six were printed.