A view of part of the intended Bridge at Blackfriars, London (ca. 1764, Met-Objekt 4010)
Original title: A view of part of the intended Bridge at Blackfriars, London
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1764 Giovanni Battista Piranesi made an etching showing a section of the Blackfriars Bridge under construction in London. The focus falls on the bridge's wooden piers, where workers and scaffolding can be seen. The print was executed in the etching technique.
Description
Heavy timber structures first draw the eye—bridge piers reinforced with frames and beams. On these piers, construction workers are busy at their tasks, while behind them church towers and a cityscape stretch out. Above the river, where boats and people move, a cloudy sky casts a subdued light. The detailed lines and shading emphasize the structure and the work in progress.
Context
Piranesi, best known for his vedute and architectural fantasies, made this etching in connection with the building of Blackfriars Bridge, erected in London between 1760 and 1769. The print dates from a stay in London during which Piranesi documented architectural projects. It shows the planned state of the bridge construction, based on designs by contemporary engineers such as Robert Mylne.
Impact
To the viewer, the print reads as a sober record of construction progress set within an atmospheric river landscape. Technical precision and the moody cloud cover combine into a calm, almost monumental presence that underscores the engineering achievement.
Technique
This work is an etching, for which the lines were bitten into a plate and then printed. The technique allows fine hatching and shading that render both the wooden structures and the mood of the sky with nuance. At 41.6 × 62.2 cm, the sheet offers a generous surface for the detailed view.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)