Lot 855: Benjamin Henry Latrobe Center House watercolor

Benjamin Henry Latrobe
(1764-1820)

the center square pump house, circa 1800

Unsigned, inscribed ' The Center House' watercolor, pencil, pen and ink on paper, framed.

H: 12 3/4 in. W: 22 1/2 in. (sight)



PROVENANCE:

Benjamin Henry Latrobe, America's first professionally trained architect was born in England to Moravian parents. He received an extraordinarily rich education in languages, music, science and the arts. He traveled widely and served apprenticeships in architecture and engineering before arriving in Virginia in 1793. He moved to Philadelphia in 1798 and was commissioned to design The Bank of Pennsylvania, the first major structure in the Greek Revival style in America. In 1800, Latrobe began work on the Philadelphia Waterworks. He proposed the use of steam powered pumps to bring water from the Schuylkill River to Center Square. There, his temple-form marble Pump House housed the steam engine that pumped water to a holding tank on the upper floor, and then distributed water throughout the city by gravity through wooden pipes. Center Square became a popular gathering spot and was used until the construction of the Fairmount Waterworks in 1812. The structure was demolished in 1828. Latrobe also served as Surveyor of the Public Buildings of the United States. He worked on numerous public buildings including The White House and The United States Capitol Building. This watercolor is one of the few extant drawings of Latrobe's Philadelphia work. A comprehensive report and extensive research accompanies the lot.