Design for Omnibus or Wagonette, no. 3747
1882
Medium
Graphite, pen and black ink, watercolor and gouache with gum arabic
Dimensions
sheet: 7 x 9 1/8 in. (17.8 x 23.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William Brewster, 1923
Accession Number
23.112.504
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 19th-century transportation with *Design for Omnibus orette, no. 3747* by Brewster & Co., created in 1882. This drawing captures a proposed horse-drawn vehicle—likely a versatile omnibus for public use or a lighter wagonette for leisurely outings—showcasing the firm's expertise in crafting luxury carriages for America's elite during the Gilded Age. ster & Co., founded in New York in 1810, was renowned as one of the finest carriage makers, serving presidents, tycoons, and royalty. By 1882, as automobiles loomed on the horizon, such designs represented the pinnacl...
About the Artist
Brewster & Co.
**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...