Joseph Bazalgette contract drawings for the Metropolitan Board of Works. Southern Outfall Works

1864

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

Joseph Bazalgette contract drawings for the Metropolitan Board of Works. Southern Outfall Works is a 1864 by Joseph William Bazalgette, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Joseph William Bazalgette
When & what style?: 1864 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a black-and-white blueprint of a big building. You see walls, arches, and lots of tiny lines marking measurements. The top says "Main Drainage Metropolis" and "Engine House." There’s a scale at the bottom—it measures real sizes in feet and inches. The drawing looks like a plan for a sewage system, not just a regular building. The lines are precise, showing every beam and pipe inside. Check out Bazalgette, Joseph William (Sir) for more on how these plans worked.

The story of this work

Overview

A contract drawing from 1864 by Sir Joseph Bazalgette outlines plans for the Southern Outfall Works, part of London’s sewer infrastructure. The document details the proposed layout and construction specifications for the drainage system. It reflects Bazalgette’s engineering approach to addressing the city’s sanitation challenges during the mid-19th century.

Read the full account in the museum source.