[ Clifton Suspension Bridge under construction, by J. L. Sachs of the Illustrated London News. ] Signed watercolour wash drawing of 'The site for Hungerford Suspension Bridge', showing the towers of the bridge on the banks of the Avon Gorge.

17.5 x 25 cm. In good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. In the bottom left-hand corner, in a close contemporary hand, in ink: 'The site for Hungerford Suspension Bridge. | from J Sachs, 203, Strand'. (203 Strand was the address of Abbott, Barton & Co., advertising agents.) In pencil at bottom left: 'Clifton -', with the word 'River' in lighter pencil towards the centre. The view, in grey pencil wash, shows a pleasing view down the Avon Gorge, with the Bridge's two towers the only part of the structure completed. Work on the bridge had begun in 1831, and by 1837 only the towers had been completed. In 1860 Brunel's 'Hungerford Suspension Bridge' over the Thames in London was demolished to make way for a new railway bridge to Charing Cross station, and its chains were purchased for use at Clifton. A typed note on an accompanying slip of paper states that 'J. L. Sachs was an illustrator for the Illustrated London News, theatre manager and one of the Henry Brabazon Brabazon [sic] circle. This was almost certainly a sketch intended for publication.'