Design for Brougham, no. 794

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 19th-century coachbuilding with *Design forrougham, no. 794*, a meticulously crafted drawing by the renowned New York firm Brewster &. in collaboration with designer Paul Rodissart. between 1850 and1870, this work the blueprint for a brougham sleek, enclosed horse-drawn favored by the urban elite for compact luxury and privacy. Brewster & Co., established in 1810, was America's premier carriage maker, crafting vehicles for presidents, tycoons, and royalty, blending British traditions with American innovation. Rendered in pen and black ink for precise lines, with watercolor and gouache heightened by gum arabic for a glossy, lifelike sheen, the drawing exemplifies the artistry of industrial design. At just 6¼ x 9⅛ inches, it served as both a functional proposal and a promotional showcase, highlighting ornate details like polished panels and tufted interiors that signaled wealth and refinement. Gum arabic, a natural binder, added depth and luster, mimicking the varnished elegance of the final carriage. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of William Brewster, 1923), this piece offers a window into a vanishing era of horsepower and handcraft, just before automobiles reshaped society. It reminds us how design elevated everyday transport into high art.

About the Artist

Brewster & Co.|Paul Rodissart · 1837–present

**Brewster & Co.** Brewster & Company, a premier American coachbuilder renowned for its exquisite carriage designs, was established in 1810 in New Haven, Connecticut, by James Brewster (1788–1866). Born in 1788, Brewster trained as a wagonmaker's apprentice starting at age 16 in Northampton, Massachusetts, before relocating to New Haven, where he set up his workshop and quickly gained acclaim for...