Bridge over the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia (Bro öfver Skuylkill strömmen nära Philadelphia), from "Atlas til Friherre Klinckowströms Bref om de Förente Staterne" (Atlas to accompany Baron Klinckowström's Letters Written on a Journey to the United States, 1818–20)
The Upper Ferry or Fairmount Bridge was a covered wooden bridge over the Schuylkill River at Fairmount, designed by Louis Wernwag (1769–1843) and opened in 1812. The span of 340 feet was a record in the United States at the time, and the arched span supported with the help of iron rods. The bridge served a busy crossing point until it burned in 1828, and this view from the river's east bank, and shows the Harding Hotel opposite, as well as a Conestoga wagon, and laden canal boat. Klinkowström based his print on an 1819 engraving by Thomas Birch.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bridge over the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia (Bro öfver Skuylkill strömmen nära Philadelphia), from "Atlas til Friherre Klinckowströms Bref om de Förente Staterne" (Atlas to accompany Baron Klinckowström's Letters Written on a Journey to the United States, 1818–20)
- Series/Portfolio: Atlas til Friherre Klinckowströms Bref om de Förente Staterne (Atlas to accompany Baron Klinckowström's Letters Written on a Journey to the United States, 1818–20)
- Designer: Axel Klinckowström (Swedish, 1775–1837)
- Etcher: Carl Fredrik Akrell (Swedish, 1779–1868)
- Artist: After Thomas Birch (American, London 1779–1851 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Designer: Bridge designed by Louis Wernwag (American, Alteburg, Württemberg, Germany 1769–1843 Harper's Ferry, West Virginia)
- Date: 1824
- Medium: Etching and aquatint
- Dimensions: Plate: 13 1/8 × 19 1/2 in. (33.3 × 49.6 cm)
Sheet: 16 5/8 × 21 7/16 in. (42.2 × 54.4 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
- Object Number: 24.90.1965(8)
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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