Frederick Law Olmstead Parkway Plans
Frederick Law Olmstead (1822-1903), the acknowledged founder
of American landscape architecture, was one of the greatest champions
of the City Beautiful movement. In the mid 19th century there
was a huge migration from the farm to the city. The theory was
that if the city could be transformed into an aesthetically appealing
place to live more people would choose to live there and the happier
they would be. Olmstead, living in New York City at that time,
had the good fortune to be appointed Superintendent of Central
Park. Calvert Vaux and Olmstead collaborated on the Central Park
project and their plan was ultimately selected as the winning
design. He went on to design Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Chicago's
Riverside subdivision, Buffalo's park system and the Niagara Reservation
at Niagara Falls. In 1883 he relocated to Brookline, Massachusetts
where he designed a park system for the city of Boston known as
the Emerald Necklace. Even as his health was failing he was committed
to producing an original plan consistent with his design aesthetic
for the massive 1893 Columbian Exposition project in Chicago.
We have had the good fortune to acquire two of his drawings for
Metropolitan Park Commission projects in the Boston area. These
were done in 1895 just before illness forced him to turn the firm
over to his partners.
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of Massachusetts subject to 5% sales tax.
Blue Hills Parkway - General Plan - November 1895. Metropolitan
Park. Olmstead, Olmstead & Eliot, Landscape Architects. 33.5"
wide x 8.5" high. Discoloration at fold lines. Glare at left
is because the piece is shrink wrapped. (Stock number 003Olmstead01)
SOLD
Mystic Valley Parkway - General Plan - November 1895. Metropolitan
Park. Olmstead, Olmstead & Eliot, Landscape Architects. 24.5"
wide x 8.5" high. Discoloration at fold lines. Glare at left
is because the piece is shrink wrapped. (Stock number 003Olmstead02)
SOLD
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