STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Back in the 1800s, when ambitious New
York-based painters went looking for dramatic landscapes, they
found them a ferry-ride away, on Staten Island. At the time, the
Island’s high, central hills were still wooded and sparsely
settled. Much of the level land was green farmland. The
surrounding waters were clean and filled with picturesque
sailing vessels. The place was a landscape painter’s dream come
true. The era will be documented for the first time in "Staten
Island Scenery: 1679-1900,” a new book by Barnett Shepherd, the
New Brighton-based historian who is director emeritus of
Historic Richmond Town and an advisor to the Staten Island
Museum. The book, published jointly by Richmond Town and the
museum, will be released later in the year. Both collections
preserve paintings of Island scenes from the 19th Century “At
the time, our Island was regarded as a glorious representation
of all of America,” Shepherd said. “There were scenic views of
the the harbor, acres of woods, grassy meado