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Chromolithography: The Art of Color
Landscapes
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Prang used the paintings of many of America's leading artists to produce his prints, including those by A.F. Tait, Eastman Johnson, Thomas Moran, F.S. Church, and Albert Bierstadt. In the case of this print, one of the more important ever issued by Prang, he borrowed the painting that was in the possession of "Miss Eliza Bierstadt." The print was sold by Prang for $10 and was described as "one of the best efforts of the artist, and the chromo is also pronounced to be one of the best reproductions ever brought out." This print was very well received, and was considered one of the best reproductions of the work of an important American artist. Indeed, it is a superior example of the quality that chromolithography could achieve. $4,800
Eduard Hildebrandt (1818-1869). "Bay von San Francisco." Berlin: Verlag von R. Wagner, [1865]. 9 1/2 x 14 1/2. Chromolithograph by R Wagner. Margins trimmed to image as issued. Some minor loss of image along left edge of image. Otherwise, very good condition and color. Very rare. Peters, California On Stone, p.128
A wonderful picturesque view of San Francisco Bay in the morning. In the middle of the picture, Hildebrandt pictures Yurba Buena island, a natural outcropping located mid bay. This island today is the connection point for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. In the background is the East Bay, where the present city of Oakland is located. The viewer is looking across today from about where the Bridge connects to the San Francisco peninsula. Hildebrandt, was born in Gdansk, and made numerous journeys to the Western Hemisphere, Mediterranean, Middle East, India, China, Japan and crossing the Pacific. A very colorful and well executed series of chromolithographs of his journeys were produced most likely in the late 1860s. These chromolithographs were reproduced with great effect to emulate his original watercolor drawings. A serene view from this very rare series. $1,600
Jasper F. Cropsey. "American Autumn, Starucca Valley, Erie R. Road." Philadelphia: Thomas Sinclair, 1865. Chromolithograph by William Dreser. 22 x 31 7/8. Very good condition.
A fine example of mid-nineteenth century American chromolithography. Chromolithography was originally developed to enable printmakers to produce images of the texture and richness of oil paintings. Some of the most important artists of the period, including Jasper Cropsey, William Harnett, and Frederick Church, had their paintings reproduced using this complex medium. This is one of the most successful such projects, with chromolithographer William Dreser, using many layers of color, being able to closely follow the appearance of the original painting. This print is not only superb artistically, but also has a fascinating history. Uranus H. Crosby, of Chicago, built an opera house which he intended to donate to his city. Construction costs ran much higher than expected and Crosby needed to raise funds to finish. He thus held a lottery, the winner of which was the opera house and another prize of which was the original painting of this scene. In order to increase sales, Crosby gave a copy of this print to anyone who purchased at least four tickets. The scene, by Cropsey, shows the Starucca Valley located between the Blue Ridge and the Catskills. It is a wonderful rendering of a northern Pennsylvania scene in the height of autumn. $1,600
Thomas Hill. "Birthplace of Whittier, The Poet." [Haverhill, Mass.] Boston: L. Prang & Co., ca. 1865. Chromolithograph. 17 x 26. Mounted on original canvas and stretcher and in original wood frame. With some small repairs in image. Overall, very good condition and appearance.
There were several levels of quality for Prang's chromolithographs, with the most elaborate published backed on linen and stretcher, as in the case of this excellent print of the home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807. American views were particular popular subjects for Prang's chromolithographs and this is one of the larger and better quality prints issued by the firm, evidence of the popularity of the home of this American poet and abolitionist. $850
“Lake Chocorhua & White Mts." Ca. 1870. Chromolithograph on canvas. Original frame. Very good condition.
An annonymous chromolithograph of Lake Chocorhua and the White Mountains, probably produced in New England. Similar to a Prang print, the leaves are shown in their autumn splender and this is a charming scene. $375
Thomas Moran. "The Cliffs of Green River." [Wyoming.] Premium for The Aldine. New York, 1874. 12 x 16. Chromolithograph. Mounted on original board as issued. Some light touchup in sky. Very good condition. With period frame.
The Aldine was published from 1868 until 1879 as "the art journal of America." Within its pages were fine commissioned images by such famous artists as Thomas Moran. Like other magazines of the period, The Aldine issued some separate prints as premiums for subscribers, including two fine chromolithographs after Moran that were issued in 1874. One scene was of the West ("The Cliffs of Green River") and one of the West ("White Mountains.") In the promotion for the prints, The Aldine's editors stated that the "chromos are each worked from thirty distinct plates, and are in size (12 x 16) and appearance exact facsimiles of the originals." Moran was quoted as saying "I am delighted with the proofs in color of your chromos. They are wonderfully successful representations by mechanical process of the original paintings." $1,500
Thomas Moran. "White Mountains." Premium for The Aldine. New York, 1874. 11 x 14. Mounted on original board, with original label. With cracks and bend across center of image.
The Aldine was published from 1868 until 1879 as "the art journal of America." Within its pages were fine commissioned images by such famous artists as Thomas Moran. Like other magazines of the period, The Aldine issued some separate prints as bonuses for subscribers, including this fine chromolithograph after Moran. Moran "expressed his entire satisfaction with this reproduction, pronouncing its accuracy, 'wonderful.'" $600
"Across the Rocky Mountains." Cincinnati: William M. Donaldson & Co., 1879. 22 1/2 x 29 1/2. Chromolithograph. Margins trimmed to image as originally issued. Very good condition. In period frame.
A majestic Western scene, produced in chromolithography by the Donaldson company in Cincinnati. This firm specialized in circus posters, but also produced fine chromolithographs for framing and display, such as this dramatic print. The Rocky Mountains are shown towering over a forested valley. Snow, clouds and mist hug the mountain peaks. In the foreground are some Indians pointing as the train bursts thru the tunnel opening. Much of the West was still unknown at this time. The whole scene is a wonderful representation of Manifest Destiny. Man's ability to over come any topographical obstacle and his inevitable quest to conquer the West. Overall a very atmospheric and dramatic image of the Rocky Mountains. $2600
Andrew W. Melrose. "Lake George." [Sabbath Day Point/Roger's Slide]. Washington: A. Melrose, ca. 1885. 21 1/2 x 35 1/2. Chromolithograph by Raphael Tuck and Sons. Margins trimmed to image as issued. Vibrant colors. Very good to excellent condition. In period frame.
Andrew Melrose (1836-1901) was an artist of American landscapes. He had studios in Hoboken and Guttenburg, New Jersey during the 1870s and 1880s. He is particularly known for his paintings of views from North Carolina to New England, though he also produced images of Ireland, the Tyrol and Cornwall, England. This lovely and colorful Adirondack scene shows the area of Sabbath Day Point, near the present day town of Hague, New York. The view is looking north. In the background, on the left is Roger's Slide. In foreground, is a cabin with people unloading provisions on the shore. In the middle distance a flat bottom boat is ferrying people to another location on the lake. Melrose published a number of large chromolithographs after his paintings. Many artists tried selling these large and colorful prints to make extra money and to help establish their reputations. This is an excellent example of nineteenth century chromolithography used to reproduce American paintings. $3,200
Andrew W. Melrose. "Mills and Dales of New England." Washington: A. Melrose, ca. 1885. 21 1/2 x 35 1/2. Chromolithograph by Raphael Tuck and Sons. Vibrant colors. Margins trimmed to image as issued. Small portion of lower right hand corner missing. Otherwise, very good condition.
This Melrose image shows a typical New England valley, with boaters and picnicers along side a stream passing by a charming New England village. $2,400
"Bridal Veil Falls." From Warren Cheyney. Yosemite Illustrated in Colors. San Francisco: H. S. Crocker, 1890. Approximately 9 1/2 x 7 (vignette). Chromolithograph after watercolor and oil sketch by H.W. Hansen. Very good condition.
First published in 1890, the beautiful book from which this print comes was the earliest coffee table books to illustrate the wonders of Yosemite. Its was issued as part of a promotion to establish Yosemite as a tourist destination and national park. It features twelve chromolithographs, each with a small poem by Harry Dix, after the paintings of H.W. Hansen and Carll Dahlgren.
H. W. Hansen (1854-1924) was born in Dithmarschen, Germany and studied painting until he emigrated to the United States in 1877. He settled in Chicago to study at the Art Institute. In 1882, he moved to San Francisco and over a period time he made several sketching expeditions to various parts of the West. In general, his paintings were very popular with collectors during the early 20th century and his work, at the time, was favorably compared to Remington.
Carll Dahlgren (1841-1920) was born in Denmark and studied at the Copenhagen Academy of Arts. In 1872, he and his brother immigrated to Salt Lake City. There he worked briefly as an artist- draftsman for the Surveyor General. Five years later he moved to San Francisco and became involved in the San Francisco Art Association. The majority of his work were landscapes but he did a series of street scenes of San Francisco following the earthquake of 1906. His work can be recognized by a shaft of sunlight which is often found in his images. Overall, a wonderful scenic views of the famous National Park. $175
Go to a complete listing of images from this series on Yosemite
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