- 146
Prang, Louis [printer and publisher]
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- [Prang's War Pictures]. [Boston: L. Prang & Company, 1886-1888]
- paper, ink
ILLUSTRATION: 18 chromolithographs by Prang after Thulstrup or Davidson (each print approximately 15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm), cut to the edge of the image (as issued) and tipped onto individual thin card mounts, each mount with printed title and imprint.
Oblong folio (22 x 28 in.; 559 x 711 mm).
A few images with minor rubbing or spotting, barely affecting images. Housed in a morocco backed box.
Oblong folio (22 x 28 in.; 559 x 711 mm).
A few images with minor rubbing or spotting, barely affecting images. Housed in a morocco backed box.
Literature
Freeman, Louis Prang: Color Lithographer. Giant of a Man; H. Holzer (edt.), Prang's Civil War Pictures; Last, The Color Explosion p. 122; McClinton, The Chromolithographs of Louis Prang pp.147-151
Catalogue Note
COMPLETE SET OF PRANG'S MAGNIFICENT CIVIL WAR SERIES In his prospectus to this series of prints, Prang emphasised the care he had taken over the printing: "Each picture is a combination of over 300 colors and shades ... the flags and uniforms of the officers and troops are vividly reproduced, the fire and smoke of battle graphically portrayed, and all the surrounding represented in colors of nature and of actual war." This was a grand-scale project and one of Prang's masterpieces: McLinton rightly calls this series "some of the most interesting pictures of the civil war" (p.151), and Prang himself thought so highly of the images that he chose these prints to represent his work when he exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. They were very well received, drawing praise from many quarters including a letter from David Porter, the Secretary of the Navy.
Prang was a master at promoting his own work and to this end he also enlisted the help of a number of well-placed veterans to confirm the authenticity of his images: General John A. Logan ("marvellously well-executed"); Admiral David Dixon Porter (offered his "unqualified approbation"); General O.O. Howard ("the execution is admirable"); General William T. Sherman ("well-executed ... accurately depicting the scene"), General Alexander S. Webb ("one of the best war pictures I have ever seen").
"Prang made every effort to produce chromos that would appeal to print-buying veterans of all branches of the military and all theaters of the war, Indeed there were scenes of twelve land battles, five naval engagements, and one naval-marine assault. Five of the prints depicted engagements in Virginia, three in Georgia, two each in Louisiana and Tennessee, and one each in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina. Yet another print portrayed a fabled naval duel off the coast of France. There would be something for everyone" (Holzer, Prang's Civil War Pictures p.38).
A famed suite of folio images published by renowned American chromolithographer, Louis Prang, depicting important battles of the Civil War. A beautiful suite of prints, memorializing the bloodiest conflict in our nation's history.
The individual plates are as follows:
LAND BATTLES (EASTERN DIVISION):
1) Thulstrup. Sheridan's Final Charge at Winchester / September 19th. 1864. [1886]. (15 x 22 in.; 381 x 559 mm).
2) Thulstrup. Battle of Fredericksburg / laying ponton [sic.] bridges under fire. 1887. (15 x 21 5/8 in.; 381 x 550 mm).
3) Thulstrup. Sheridan's Ride / October 19th 1864. [1886]. (15 x 21 5/8 in.; 381 x 550 mm).
4) Thulstrup. Battle of Gettysburg / repulse of Pickett's charge. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
5) Thulstrup. Battle of Antietam / advance upon the rebel centre at Dunker Church. [1887]. (15 x 21 3/8 in.; 381 x 550 mm).
6) Thulstrup. Battle of Spottsylvania / The Bloody Angle. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
LAND BATTLES (WESTERN DIVISION):
7) Thulstrup. Battle of Chattanooga / from Orchard Knob. [1886]. (15 x 21 3/8 in.; 381 x 542 mm).
8) Thulstrup. Battle of Kenesaw Mountain / charge of Logan's Corps. [1887]. (14 7/8 x 21 3/8 in.; 375 x 542 mm).
9) Thulstrup. Battle of Allatoona Pass / Hold the fort. [1887]. (15 1/8 x 21 3/4 in.; 386 x 552 mm).
10) Thulstrup. Siege of Atlanta / Gen. Sherman and staff inspecting batteries. [1888]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
11) Thulstrup. Siege of Vicksburg / the assault on Fort Hill. [1888]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
12) Thulstrup. Battle of Shiloh / The Hornet's Nest. [1888]. (14 7/8 x 21 3/8 in.; 375 x 542 mm).
NAVAL BATTLES:
13) Davidson, J.O. Capture of New Orleans / Farragut passing the forts by night. [1886]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
14) Davidson, J.O. Monitor and Merrimac / first fight between ironclads. [1886]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
15) Davidson, J.O. Battle of Mobile Bay / Passing Fort Morgan and the torpedoes. [1886]. (14 7/8 x 21 3/8 in.; 375 x 542 mm).
16) Davidson, J.O. Kearsarge and Alabama / hauling down the flag. [1877]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
17) Davidson, J.O. Battle of Port Hudson / passing the river batteries. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
18) Davidson, J.O. Capture of Fort Fisher / Charge of the marines on the traverse. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
Prang was a master at promoting his own work and to this end he also enlisted the help of a number of well-placed veterans to confirm the authenticity of his images: General John A. Logan ("marvellously well-executed"); Admiral David Dixon Porter (offered his "unqualified approbation"); General O.O. Howard ("the execution is admirable"); General William T. Sherman ("well-executed ... accurately depicting the scene"), General Alexander S. Webb ("one of the best war pictures I have ever seen").
"Prang made every effort to produce chromos that would appeal to print-buying veterans of all branches of the military and all theaters of the war, Indeed there were scenes of twelve land battles, five naval engagements, and one naval-marine assault. Five of the prints depicted engagements in Virginia, three in Georgia, two each in Louisiana and Tennessee, and one each in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina. Yet another print portrayed a fabled naval duel off the coast of France. There would be something for everyone" (Holzer, Prang's Civil War Pictures p.38).
A famed suite of folio images published by renowned American chromolithographer, Louis Prang, depicting important battles of the Civil War. A beautiful suite of prints, memorializing the bloodiest conflict in our nation's history.
The individual plates are as follows:
LAND BATTLES (EASTERN DIVISION):
1) Thulstrup. Sheridan's Final Charge at Winchester / September 19th. 1864. [1886]. (15 x 22 in.; 381 x 559 mm).
2) Thulstrup. Battle of Fredericksburg / laying ponton [sic.] bridges under fire. 1887. (15 x 21 5/8 in.; 381 x 550 mm).
3) Thulstrup. Sheridan's Ride / October 19th 1864. [1886]. (15 x 21 5/8 in.; 381 x 550 mm).
4) Thulstrup. Battle of Gettysburg / repulse of Pickett's charge. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
5) Thulstrup. Battle of Antietam / advance upon the rebel centre at Dunker Church. [1887]. (15 x 21 3/8 in.; 381 x 550 mm).
6) Thulstrup. Battle of Spottsylvania / The Bloody Angle. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
LAND BATTLES (WESTERN DIVISION):
7) Thulstrup. Battle of Chattanooga / from Orchard Knob. [1886]. (15 x 21 3/8 in.; 381 x 542 mm).
8) Thulstrup. Battle of Kenesaw Mountain / charge of Logan's Corps. [1887]. (14 7/8 x 21 3/8 in.; 375 x 542 mm).
9) Thulstrup. Battle of Allatoona Pass / Hold the fort. [1887]. (15 1/8 x 21 3/4 in.; 386 x 552 mm).
10) Thulstrup. Siege of Atlanta / Gen. Sherman and staff inspecting batteries. [1888]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
11) Thulstrup. Siege of Vicksburg / the assault on Fort Hill. [1888]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
12) Thulstrup. Battle of Shiloh / The Hornet's Nest. [1888]. (14 7/8 x 21 3/8 in.; 375 x 542 mm).
NAVAL BATTLES:
13) Davidson, J.O. Capture of New Orleans / Farragut passing the forts by night. [1886]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
14) Davidson, J.O. Monitor and Merrimac / first fight between ironclads. [1886]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
15) Davidson, J.O. Battle of Mobile Bay / Passing Fort Morgan and the torpedoes. [1886]. (14 7/8 x 21 3/8 in.; 375 x 542 mm).
16) Davidson, J.O. Kearsarge and Alabama / hauling down the flag. [1877]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
17) Davidson, J.O. Battle of Port Hudson / passing the river batteries. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).
18) Davidson, J.O. Capture of Fort Fisher / Charge of the marines on the traverse. [1887]. (15 x 21 1/2 in.; 381 x 546 mm).