James Abbott McNeill Whistler. 1834-1903.
Old Hungerford Bridge. 1861. Etching. Kennedy 76. A rare undescribed impression, before the small figures at the lower right-hand corner were burnished out. Before publication in The Thames Set. Later issued as plate 6 of "A Series of Sixteen Etchings of Scenes on the Thames and Other Subjects" (Thames Set). Printed on off-white wove paper with full margins. A rich impression with burr on the left-hand tower and on the sail of the large boat on the right. Signed in the plate, as usual. $8,000.
Old Hungerford Bridge is one of two footbridges on either side of the Charing Cross railway bridge across the river Thames. This linked the south bank with Hungerford Market on the north side. Whistler probably etched the plate in the winter of 1860, when the Brunel Bridge was being demolished to make way for Charing Cross railway bridge.
The suspension chains, some of which are shown being taken down, were re-used to complete Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, also designed by Brunel. This etching anticipates Whistler’s move to an aesthetic approach, concentrating on simple lines and shapes to convey the scene. He has included a number of different river craft: steamboats, Thames barges, lighters and a hay barge. Figures can be seen working high up on the bridge.
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