1860: Central Park, New York. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. A View of The Terrace, looking south from the Ramble; & Bridge for Carriage-drive over arm of the Lake, near the Ramble. Mr C. Vaux, Architect. Bethesda Terrace and Carriage Bridge: Two Architectures in Central Park, 1860. Two original pages from The Builder. An Illustrated Weekly Magazine, for the Architect, Engineer, Archaeologist, Constructor, & Art-Lover.
London: The Builder, 1860. Unframed Print. Very Good Condition. Item #369214
While most contributions to The Builder survey European architecture, these two engravings capture a uniquely American episode, rich in symbolic intent and civic imagination. A rare visual record of Central Park's architectural choreography at its heart and threshold. Bethesda Terrace & Fountain. Architectural Prestige : Designed by Calvert Vaux (also responsible for much of the park's original layout) with Jacob Wrey Mould as assistant, this terrace was envisioned as the formal centrepiece of the park's social life. Vaux and Mould's collaboration here reflects their embrace of picturesque and romantic styles, a harmony of nature and ornate human touch. Symbolism at Play : The fountain features the "Angel of the Waters" statue by Emma Stebbins, the first major public art commission given to a woman in New York City. She chose biblical imagery, an angel blessing the healing waters of Bethesda, paired with civic allegory: the arrival of clean water via the Croton Aqueduct system. From Ramble to Ritual : The engraving's view south from the Ramble intentionally contrasts woodland whimsy with sculpted order. The descent into the terrace invites contemplation and public gathering, a metaphorical journey from the wild to the civil. Cultural Context : Produced during the late 19th century when Central Park was being hailed as a triumph of democratic urban design. The terrace embodied the desire to make beauty and health accessible, not just a privilege of wealth, but a civic right. The illustrations found in leading architectural journals of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as The Builder, Building News, and The Architect are masterpieces of visual craftsmanship. These illustrations capture the elegance, intricacy, and stylistic flair of the period's architecture. Rich in ornamental detail and atmospheric depth, they reflect not only the buildings themselves but the artistic sensibilities and design discourse of their age. THIS IS TWO ORIGINAL PAGES FROM THE JOURNAL, PRINTED AT THE DATE SHOWN IN THE TITLE, NOT A REPRINT OR COPY. Category: Builder & Building News; Unframed Prints : Old; Special Interest. This item may require more postage than the rates shown for delivery outside the UK. If extra postage is required we will contact you before processing your order and you will be given the details and option to decline the extra cost.
Keywords: BZDB395 Architecture Builder & Building News; Unframed Prints : Old; Special Interest. NEW YORK 1860: Central Park, New York. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. A View of The Terrace, looking south from the Ramble; & Bridge for Carriage-drive ove
Price: £29.95