Washington Square (Philadelphia, PA)
[http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/research/casva/research-projects.html A Project of the National Gallery of Art, Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts ]
Overview
Alternate Names:
Site Dates:
Site Owner(s):
Site Designer(s):
Location:
Philadelphia, Pa.
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Related Sites:
Related Terms: Arch, Obelisk, Square
Images
George Bridport, Design for Washington Monument, Washington Square, Philadelphia, 1816.
George Bridport, Alternative designs for Washington Monument, Washington Square, Philadelphia, 1816.
Unknown, Map of Washington Square [detail], c. 1835-1840.
Unknown, Map of Washington Square [detail], c. 1835-1840.
M. Schmitz (artist), Thomas S. Sinclair (lithographer), John B. Colahan (surveyor), "Map of Washington Square, Philadelphia," 1843.
Texts
- Lane, Samuel, 1820, describing George Bridport’s proposal for Washington Square, Philadelphia, Pa. (quoted in O’Gorman et al. 1986: 68)
- “[I am writing] to ascertain the artist who designed the public Garden on Chestnut Street [sic] at the place (if I am not mistaken) formerly called Potters field; and if he is in your town inquire if he would come on here [Washington, D.C.] to furnish a design for Improving the Capitol Square.” [Fig. 1]
- Loudon, J. C., 1850, describing public gardens (pp. 332–33)
- “856. Public Gardens. . . .
- “Promenade at Philadelphia. There is a very pretty enclosure before the walnut tree entrance to the state-house, with good well-kept gravel walks, and many beautiful flowering trees. It is laid down in grass, not in turf; which indeed, Mrs. Trollope observes, ‘is a luxury she never saw in America.’ Near this enclosure is another of a similar description, called Washington Square, which has numerous trees, with commodious seats placed beneath their shade.’ (Ibid. [D. M. &c.] vol. ii. p. 48.)"
- Watson, John Fanning, 1857, describing Washington Square, Philadelphia, Pa. (1:405)
- "This beautiful square, now so much the resort of citizens and strangers, as a promenade, was, only twenty-five years ago, a 'Potter's Field,'....It was long enclosed in a post and rail fence, and always produced much grass."
