1860 Wizani View of Old Blackfriars Bridge, London

A scarce c. 1820 hand-colored etching view of Blackfriars Bridge and environs in London by Johann Friedrich Wizani, based on a drawing by Frederick Pigralelli.

A Closer Look

Oriented towards the northeast, this view focuses on the Blackfriars Bridge, the third bridge across the Thames, opened in 1769. St. Paul's Cathedral stands in the background and is almost as prominent as the bridge; the spires of other churches and public buildings peak above the surrounding skyline. On the bridge, people (including red-coated soldiers), goods, horses, and carriages travel in both directions. On the Thames, ships of various sizes and types move up and down the river or are docked. In the background on the right is another bridge, most likely London Bridge.

The Old Blackfriars Bridge

The Old Blackfriars Bridge in London, built in 1769, connected the City of London with Southwark across the Thames. The bridge was designed by the Scottish architect Robert Mylne and was the third bridge built across the Thames in London, after London Bridge and Westminster Bridge. Designed in a neoclassical style, the 1,000-foot bridge was distinctive for its elliptical arches. At the time of construction, it was one of the longest stone arch bridges in Europe. The bridge was originally named William Pitt Bridge after the then-Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder, but became commonly known as Blackfriars Bridge, after the nearby Blackfriars Monastery. By the mid-19th century, the old bridge had deteriorated due to structural weaknesses and increased traffic. It was dismantled in 1860, making way for the current Blackfriars Bridge.

Publication History and Census

This view is a hand-colored etching by Johann Friedrich Wizani. Although the present example is trimmed to the neatline and untitled, the only other example, held at the Yale Center for British Art, bears the title 'London' and Wizani's imprint. The Wizani etching was based on a drawing by Frederick Pigralelli and published by Kunst-Verlag von L. v. Kleist in Dresden. The view is undated but most likely was produced in the early 19th century; the apparent lack of Southwark Bridge would suggest a date of 1815 or earlier for Pigralelli's drawing.