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Wild, J.C. Fairmount Waterworks. Phila., 1838. $1500 |
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 “Fairmount Waterworks”
As the subtitle of the print states, this beautiful and rare lithograph was drawn by J C Wild as “a Pictorial Embellishment of the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.” It clearly shows the Neoclassical waterworks buildings, the gardens and the gazebo on the hill leading up to the reservoir occupying the top of the hill where the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands. The wooden covered Upper Ferry Bridge or so-called ‘Colossus’ bridge is shown in the background. It was destroyed by fire the very same year. The middle ground shows crews rowing in two six man racing shells, making it one of the earliest prints to show racing on the river .
The text below the title states: “Fairmount is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. There are six basins (a bird’s eye view of which is shown in the vignette) elevated upon a high hill above the tops of the houses in the city. The water is thrown into them by means of force pumps which are driven by a head of water from the river Schuylkill affording a never failing supply to the inhabitants of the city, the Northern Liberties & Southwark. The works cost upwards a million of dollars.”
Hand colored lithograph.
11 ½ x 13 ¼ inches, sheet.
Very good condition with trimmed but acceptably large margins. Small repaired 1” tear at center without loss of surface.
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