Leutze, Emmanuel Gottlieb “Grant at the Capture of the City of Mexico”

Emmanuel Gottlieb Leutze (1816-1868).  “Grant at the Capture of the City of Mexico.  Lacking the following information under the title: [From the original picture, painted by the late Emanuel Leutze, expressly for Mr. Leslie, and published as a supplement to Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper].” 

New York: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, December 9, 1868.   21 5/8 x 17 (image).    Chromolithograph by William Dickes, London.  Signed by the artist in the image bottom left hand corner.  Filled chip in left hand margin with repaired tear into image left hand side.  Light stain in upper right hand margin corner.  Print has been professionally conserved.  Else, very good condition. 

This large print depicts Ulysses S. Grant, during the Mexican American War, directing cannon fire from a church steeple opposite the San Cosme Gate leading into Mexico City.  This action effectively cleared the way for the American 1^st Division to enter and ultimately take the city. 

This print is after a painting by Emmanuel Leutze which was exclusively painted as a supplement for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper.  The additional publication information below the title is missing.  Leutze died in July of 1868 so this print was issued five months following his death.  However, this print lacks any horizontal or vertical folds in order to be inserted into the publication.  Most likely this print was also separately issued.  Two other chromolithographs of Grant were issued as supplements that year: one of Grant as a boy taming a horse and the other of Grant building his log cabin.