Plate
This blue and white transfer-printed earthenware soup plate made by the Staffordshire firm of Joseph Stubbs features a view of Fairmount Park near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stubbs included the view in its series of approximately seventeen architectural and scenic American views with standard borders of spread eagles, flowers and scrolls, which it produced for the United States export market. Fairmount Park, also known as Fairmount Gardens, served as the grounds for the Fairmount Water Works built in the neoclassical style from 1812 to 1824 after designs by Philadelphia engineer Frederick Graff (1774–1847). Providing a scenic setting for one of the nation's first hydraulic-powered pumping systems and also constituting one of the nation’s first public parks, Fairmount Park quickly became a popular nineteenth-century tourist attraction. The site was frequently portrayed on transfer-printed export wares. Other views of the Water Works, Park and connecting bridges appear, for example, on a plate, 14.102.301, by Job & John Jackson (1831–1835), a dish, 14.102.220, by William Ridgway, Son & Co. (ca. 1836–1848) and a plate, 14.102.290, by Enoch Wood & Sons (1818–1846). Stubbs' view of Fairmount Park was based on a drawing by English-born Philadelphia artist Thomas Birch (1779–1851) engraved by Robert Campbell (1806–1831) and published in 1824. Birch's composition was also used for a similar view of Fairmount Park on a plate, 16.83.7, by Henshall & Co. (1790–1838). Another Birch composition depicting the Upper Ferry Bridge at the Fairmount Water Works inspired a view on a plate, 10.57.14, by Stubbs. The American Wing's collection also contains additional pieces by Stubbs. Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about the above-mentioned firms.
Artwork Details
- Title: Plate
- Maker: Joseph Stubbs (active ca. 1822–36)
- Date: ca. 1824–ca. 1836
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: Diam. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm)
- Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
- Object Number: 14.102.106
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Joseph Stubbs (active ca. 1822–36)
ca. 1826–ca. 1836
Joseph Stubbs (active ca. 1822–36)
ca. 1822–ca. 1836
Joseph Stubbs (active ca. 1822–36)
ca. 1822–ca. 1836
Joseph Stubbs (active ca. 1822–36)
ca. 1825–ca. 1836
Joseph Stubbs (active ca. 1822–36)
ca. 1822–ca. 1836
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