Architecture & Design · 19th century
€ 80
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good impression with fine original hand-coloring. Minor age toning and a few faint spots in the lower margin, otherwise clean and well-preserved. Wide margins and visible plate mark.
Opening of the Vienna Water Supply – Schwarzenbergplatz Fountain Celebration, 1873
A striking hand-colored engraving depicting the grand public celebration for the Eröffnung der Hochquellen-Wasserleitung in Wien (Opening of the Vienna High Spring Water Supply) on October 24, 1873. The scene shows jubilant crowds gathered around the illuminated Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain at Schwarzenbergplatz, which had just been inaugurated as a symbol of Vienna’s new and modern water system.
The composition captures the moment the powerful fountain jets burst into the air before the Schwarzenberg Palace, amid cheering citizens waving hats and flags. Gas lamps cast a soft glow over the bridge and the assembled crowd, while architectural landmarks such as the palace and surrounding buildings frame the evening spectacle. This event was a milestone in Vienna’s urban development — the new alpine water pipeline brought fresh water from the Styrian mountains to the rapidly growing imperial capital, greatly improving public health and sanitation.
The engraving, produced shortly after the event, reflects both the civic pride and technical triumph of late 19th-century Vienna. It is an evocative image of celebration, progress, and the splendor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at its height.
Condition: Very good impression with fine original hand-coloring. Minor age toning and a few faint spots in the lower margin, otherwise clean and well-preserved. Wide margins and visible plate mark.
Framing tips: A dark wood or bronze-toned frame with a soft ivory mat will highlight the dramatic evening atmosphere and golden illumination of the scene.
Technique: Hand-colored engraving on laid paper
Maker: Anonymous artist after contemporary sketches, Vienna, 1873
