Preview
Creation Date
1866
Geography
United States
Culture
American
Medium
Photomechanical reproduction of original color lithograph
Dimensions
With frame: 13 3/8 × 18 7/16 in. (34 × 46.8 cm)
Credit Line
Long-term Loan from the Estate of Boris Blick, 2015
Accession Number
2015.8
Provenance
Purchased by Boris Blick from Stagecoach Antiques in Akron, Ohio.
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings
Margins of print hidden in frame but print from Metropolitan Museum of Art, 63.550.42 labels "THE CHAMPIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI. / "A Race for the Buckhorns"" in lower margin with additional smaller inscriptions.
"THE CHAMPIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI. / "A Race for the Buckhorns"" has also been pasted on the back of the frame.
Rubber stamp on back of frame: "Camp's Art Store 311 CLEVE. AVE. N.W. PHONE 2 - 8501 CANTON, OH"
Creator Biography
Frances Flora Bond Palmer, American (born England), 1812–1876 (lithographer).
Currier & Ives, American, active New York, 1857–1907 (publisher).
Description
This reproduction depicts a steamboat race along the Mississippi River. Three steamboats sail into the foreground, with dark clouds of smoke and embers trailing from the smokestacks. A fourth boat approaches in the background. On the banks of the river, a crowd of gentlemen cheer and wave their hats around a bonfire as they come near. A bright full moon illuminates the scene.
Currier and Ives issued dozens of prints about the Mississippi River. The subtitle of this print identifies it as a race "for the buckhorns." The winning boat would display stags antlers as a prize on the smokestacks for a year. Frances Flora (Fanny) Palmer was one of the most prolific artists illustrating for Currier & Ives; she produced about 200 lithographs for the company.