Central Park, New York – The Bridge
This Central Park view centers on the cast iron Bow Bridge, with men and women enjoying the lake from a covered rowboat near swans, watched by a couple from the right bank. Designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, the bridge was completed in 1862, spans 87 feet and is the largest bridge in the park.
The New York firm of Currier & Ives grew from a printing business established by Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888) in 1835. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with brother-in-law James Merritt Ives (1824–1895). The firm operated until 1907, lithographing over 4,000 subjects for distribution across America and Europe with popular categories including landscape, marines, natural history, genre, caricatures, portraits, history and foreign views. Until the 1880s, images were printed in monochrome, then hand-colored by women who worked for the company at home.
The New York firm of Currier & Ives grew from a printing business established by Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888) in 1835. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with brother-in-law James Merritt Ives (1824–1895). The firm operated until 1907, lithographing over 4,000 subjects for distribution across America and Europe with popular categories including landscape, marines, natural history, genre, caricatures, portraits, history and foreign views. Until the 1880s, images were printed in monochrome, then hand-colored by women who worked for the company at home.
Artwork Details
- Title: Central Park, New York – The Bridge
- Publisher: Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
- Date: 1862–71
- Medium: Hand-colored lithograph
- Dimensions: Image: 7 7/8 × 12 5/16 in. (20 × 31.3 cm)
Sheet: 10 1/8 in. × 14 in. (25.7 × 35.6 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Mary Van Kleeck, 1951
- Object Number: 51.594.3
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Currier & Ives
1884
Currier & Ives
1859
Currier & Ives
1857–71
Currier & Ives
1857–71
Currier & Ives
1868–78
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.