Painting: "Bridgeport City Reservoir" by L. Huge
1872 (Date manufactured/created)
black crayon and watercolor on paper
crayon, water color, paper
27.5 in H
X
43 in W
Large drawing done in graphite (pencil) with highlights of white gouache (water-based paint) depicting the Bridgeport City Reservoir, dated 1872. P. T. Barnum was instrumental in establishing the reservoir to ensure that people in the city had access to clean water, one of many civic improvements he sought for his adopted "home city." The Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, where P. T. Barnum was an early president, donated this drawing with its original frame to the museum. The image presents a perspective view directly facing the reservoir dam, with the surrounding semi-rural area of trees on rolling hills, and a few scattered buildings. The view extends a distance of miles with the city of Bridgeport on the horizon, the upper half of the picture being all sky. The city is represented by a variety of buildings, including a factory and several churches. A glimpse of Long Island Sound is beyond, with sailing vessels and a steamer. The reservoir dam, depicted in the center, is made of stone blocks and features an American flag on a tall pole in the center. To the right and left are the reservoir walls, which form an oval enclosure just beyond the dam. (The artist's viewpoint is where the water enters the reservoir). Outside the righthand wall there is a path with a few animals are shown playing, and further to the right, a roadway with horse and carriage. A two-story home is depicted in the middle ground to the right, next to an enclosed yard with shade trees and a sleek horse standing at the gate in a wall. The close proximity of the house to the dam suggests it might be the home of the superintendent. A woman is on the road in front of the house, and another figure is near the side of the house. A building on the left sits below the line of the reservoir wall, only its upper story visible, indicating the height of the reservoir. What appears to be a black mat surrounding the drawing is actually all in one with the picture. The title is hand-painted in white in an elaborate font. To the far right the "mat" also bears the signature, L. Huge (pronounced Hugh-gay), and the date, 1872, in white. The brilliant white paint also picks out very specific details in the picture, such as the white stripes on the flag and the flagpole, the edge of the house roofline, and tiny areas of the animals. The white stands in high contrast to the rest of the image due to apparent darkening of the paper over time, which now appears almost brown.
The name L. Huge is a mystery. A well-known local artist named Jurgen Frederick Huge (1809 - 1878) did an earlier version of this piece, dated 1861, which is now owned by the Bridgeport History Center. J. F. Huge and his wife had three daughters, Mary B., Sarah E., and Rose. Over a period of several years, Mary Huge is listed in city directories with her occupation as "crayon artist," and Sarah is listed once as a drawing teacher. Thus the possibility of either of them making a copy of their father's work is plausible, however, none of the daughters' names begin with "L." J. F. Huge appears to have had a brother, George Huge, but no information has been found that suggests he had children. J. F. Huge was a self-taught artist whose primary occupation was as a grocer in Bridgeport; he emigrated from Germany around or just prior to 1830. He is known for his detailed portraits of vessels, as well as scenes of Bridgeport. See painting of the steamer, Nimrod, by J. F. Huge (T 2106.043.001).
The name L. Huge is a mystery. A well-known local artist named Jurgen Frederick Huge (1809 - 1878) did an earlier version of this piece, dated 1861, which is now owned by the Bridgeport History Center. J. F. Huge and his wife had three daughters, Mary B., Sarah E., and Rose. Over a period of several years, Mary Huge is listed in city directories with her occupation as "crayon artist," and Sarah is listed once as a drawing teacher. Thus the possibility of either of them making a copy of their father's work is plausible, however, none of the daughters' names begin with "L." J. F. Huge appears to have had a brother, George Huge, but no information has been found that suggests he had children. J. F. Huge was a self-taught artist whose primary occupation was as a grocer in Bridgeport; he emigrated from Germany around or just prior to 1830. He is known for his detailed portraits of vessels, as well as scenes of Bridgeport. See painting of the steamer, Nimrod, by J. F. Huge (T 2106.043.001).
BF 1991.005.001