Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Associated person:
Washington, George  Search this
Maker:
Currier, Nathaniel  Search this
W. & S. B. Ives  Search this
Currier & Ives  Search this
Currier & Ives  Search this
Original artist:
Stuart, Gilbert  Search this
Physical Description:
paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 18 1/4 in x 16 in; 46.355 cm x 40.64 cm
Object Name:
Print
Place made:
United States: New York, New York City
Date made:
1870
Description:
This lithograph of bust length portrait of George Washington is based on a painting by Gilbert Stuart and was published by Currier and Ives. The image is a reverse view of the 1796 Athenanean portrait. Prints of George Washington were frequestly used in public school classrooms from the late 19th Century through most of the 20th Century. Around 1900 the Youth's Companion Magazine created a subscription promotional for schools to boost magazine sales while encouraging patriotic images in classrooms. This was a continuation of the Americanization movement that began with the "Flag over every Schoolhouse" campaign. Prints of Wahington and Lincoln were also common in school supply catalogs.
Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and after serving an apprenticeship in Boston, he moved to New York City in 1834. In New York, he briefly partnered with Adam Stodart, but their firm dissolved within a year, and Currier went into business on his own until 1857. James M. Ives (1824-1895) was a native New York lithographer who was hired as a bookkeeper by Currier in 1852. In 1857, the two men partnered, forming the famous lithography firm of Currier and Ives, which continued under their sons until 1907.
Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) was a successful portrait painter from Rhode Island most noted for his life portraits and their numerous copies of George Washington.
Location:
Currently not on view
General subject association:
Education  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of Roger P. Templin in memory of Daisy Templin
ID Number:
CL.59.0346
Catalog number:
59.346
59.0346
Accession number:
219034
See more items in:
Home and Community Life: Education
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-3c57-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_676732