View of the Water Works at Centre Square Philadelphia

The 4th state of Barralet’s attractive view of the Centre Square pump house.

This beautifully engraved view shows Philadelphia’s Centre Square Pump House, the first municipal waterworks in the city. It’s Neoclassical design reflects Philadelphia’s classical inheritance, while the flowing fountains and plumes of smoke highlight industrial activity and modernity. Despite the idyllic presentation, the pump houses’ functions were lacking and it was quickly superseded by the Fairmount Water Works. The building was demolished in 1829, shortly before the work was published.

The scene was drawn by noted landscape artist John James Barralet and published in Philadelphia by H. Quig around 1830. This is a nice example of the 4th state, identifiable by Quig’s imprint below the title. The third and fourth states are notable because of the presence of a ‘ghost’ between the two wagons. Quig had tried to add a small figure to liven the scene, but failed with his proportions and attempted (unsuccessfully) to ‘erase’ the addition to the plate.