The art of John Martin’s London sewerage system

The development of London's drainage system is a testament to Victorian ingenuity and engineering skill, and Sir Joseph Bazalgette is rightly credited with overseeing and ensuring its successful implementation. However, the roots of the system were established in the 1830s when an artist of the Romantic Movement blurred the boundaries of art, architecture and engineering and developed the basis of a system that still contributes to the health of London today. In today's world, where disciplines increasingly seek to find a common vocabulary and collaborate more effectively, it is perhaps timely to remember that history can provide some truly visionary precedents.