Central Park (Bethesda Terrace Steps)

Fountains, Stairs, Statuary

Dimensions

Image Dimensions: 11.2 x 16.5 | 14.7 x 19.3 cm Japan tissue (printed ca. 1897-1900)
Support Dimensions: 19.8 x 25.3 | 22.2 x 29.1 cm Cream colored paper/White Linen secondary support

Associated Blog Posts:

Old New York Strong

The Central Park Conservancy considers Bethesda Terrace- “the heart of Central Park and is, by design, its singular formal feature. Overlooking the Lake, it stands at the end of the Park’s long, tree-lined promenade known as the Mall. A grand staircase descends into the subterranean Arcade, which offers a welcome respite from rain and heat.”

Although American commercial photographer John S. Johnston (c.1839-1899) was known to have documented features in Central Park in 1893-94, albeit with people in his views, this photograph, titled Central Park-The Terrace and Grand Stairway, first appeared in 1888 in the volume The Empire State: Its Industries and Wealth. (p.45) Later, it was included as part of a series of four architectural studies of Central Park bridges in the 1896 volume The Engineering Magazine, Vol. 11.: “The Terrace”: p. 863

The work was also published as “Terrace Steps, Central Park”- an offset color lithograph print souvenir inserted within the pages of The New York Recorder newspaper between 1891-96: see New York Public Library catalog ID (B-number): b17094307.