Fifth Avenue from 42nd Street, Looking South. Lithograph.
New York: Max Williams, 1904. Stunning color lithograph, a view of Fifth Avenue, New York City from a bird’s-eye perspective looking south, with the enormous Croton Reservoir, at the right. The Reservoir, an Egyptian-style 20 million gallon distributing reservoir, was built where the New York Public Library and its stone lions now stand.
The Reservoir was completed in the 1840s and marked a huge improvement in the quality of life in the City; its massive walls are topped with a wide promenade from which visitors could view Long Island, Westchester and the Palisades. Elegant brownstones line the Avenue on the east side, and a church spire (Brick Church at 37th Street) is visible in the distance.
A line beneath the print reads, “from an old photograph by John Bachmann 1879” and "Copyrighted 1904 by Max Williams, New York " John Bachmann, a German immigrant, was an artist and lithographer, credited with coining the term "bird’s-eye view". Bachmann made bird's eye views of Civil War battle scenes as well as views of New York City from different locations.
Max Williams was an active New York City publisher, noted for his Currier & Ives prints, republished using the original lithographic stones of Currier & Ives. Image size: 20 x 15", paper 25 1/2 x 20". Slight toning along top edge, not affecting print. Very good condition. Item #24423
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