IMAGE
Phillips, Watts, 1825-1874 :A suggestion! The Leviathan, what to do with her now you've got her off. This print is with every feeling of sympathy, &c, dedicated to The Shareholders, by their obedient servts, the Publishers. Watts Phillips del., E Walker lith. London, published Jany 1858, by Ackermann & Co., 106, Strand. Day & Son, lithrs to the Queen.
- Date
- 1858 - 18/03/1908
- By
- Day & Son (Firm); Walker, E, active 1877
- Reference
- B-047-027
- Description
Shows an illustration of the huge paddlesteamer "Great Eastern", previously named the "Leviathan" in its planning stages. This print was issued in the month of the boat's launching in January 1858. it shows the boat converted into a casino and concert hall and display billboards advertising many attractions: Christy's Minstrels, Mons Julien's Monster Concert, General Tom Thumb, Royal Circus and Giant Promenade, hot baths, races, electric telegraph "to and from the other end", cattle show, Madame Tussaud's exhibition with Nana Sahib, monster aquarium, fireworks, W.S. Woodin's 'Olio of Oddities', Reverend C H Spurgeon (preaching every three hours), the India Rubber brothers, Trains "to the other end every five minutes", tea and shrimps, Carmen Reed popular illustrator, riding school for the million, Mont Blanc (Albert Smith), the Swiss giantes, Burford's Panorama, live sea serpent, the Great Whale, Frikell (physical natural magic). The ship is flying the Red Ensign. Two hot-air balloons floatr overhead, the Brunel and The Scott Russell. Smaller boats and paddlesteamers in the foreground are tying up at wharves to let spectators off to see the boat.
The artist's sympathy for the shareholders is caused by the technical difficulties that preceded the final launching of the boat in January 1858.
The "Great Eastern" was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and was then the largest ship ever built, with a tonnage of 18,915 tons. The ship was launched on 30 January 1858, and trialled finally on 7 September 1858.
An article or spoof letter in "Punch" for 2 January 1858, page 7, regarding the difficult launch of the "Leviathan" (ie the "Great Eastern", says: "Finally, Willjabber Frikel promises to put the ship in water by 'his little magics". This refers to the magician Wiljalba Frikell, whose name is shown on one of the notices on the side of the ship in this picture.
Other Titles - Servants, lithographer, lithographers, January, Company
Quantity: 1 colour art print(s).
Physical Description: Hand-coloured lithograph, 340 x 505 mm.
- Access restrictions
- Partly restricted - Please use surrogate in place of original
- Part of
- Phillips, Watts, 1825-1874 :[1. A prophecy for A.D. 3000! The New Zealand artist ...; 2. A suggestion - The Leviathan. Published 1st Septr 1858, by Ackermann & Co., 106, Strand]
- Format
- 1 colour art print(s), Works of art, Lithographs, Marines (Visual works), Hand-coloured lithograph, 340 x 505 mm., Orientation: Horizontal image
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Day & Son (Firm). Phillips, Watts, 1825-1874 :A suggestion! The Leviathan, what to do with her now you've got her off. This print is with every feeling of sympathy, &c, dedicated to The Shareholders, by their obedient servts, the Publishers. Watts Phillips del., E Walker lith. London, published Jany 1858, by Ackermann & Co., 106, Strand. Day & Son, lithrs to the Queen.. Phillips, Watts, 1825-1874 :[1. A prophecy for A.D. 3000! The New Zealand artist ...; 2. A suggestion - The Leviathan. Published 1st Septr 1858, by Ackermann & Co., 106, Strand]. Ref: B-047-027. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22822959More information can be found in our terms of use.