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Nathaniel Currier Lithograph Summer's Evening American Country Life Series C1855
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Description
"Summer's Evening" folio has the appropriate Currier and Ives' markings along with "New York, Published by N. Currier 152 Nassau Street.
(The firm was located here in lower Manhattan from 1837-1872)
The lithograph depicts a young well dressed and well to do family overlooking their property as workers tend to the farmland and harvest hay. Note the haystacks and a horse drawn hay wagon. The large and well built farm house stands proudly over the scene with the village in the background.
In addition to the Amon Carter Museum in Dallas, an example of "Summer's Evening" is in The Springfield Museum (Massachusetts) Gift of Lenore and Sydney Alpert).
Dimensions: actual= 16 1/2" h x 23 13/16" w
matte= 19 1/2" h x 25 1/4" w
folio= 19 7/8" h x 26" w
with frame= 26 1/4" h x 32 1/4" w
frame= 1 1/4" burl bird's eye maple
It is in very good all original condition; and housed and professionally mounted in a fine quality and attractive bird's eye maple wooden frame with preservation backing and frontal protective glass (important when dealing with 170 year old lithographs); it is the rare and desirable Currier large folio sheet example in fine original color. There is some toning and foxing (see images).
The larger folios are more rare because they appealed to the wealthier sector of the population and were more expensive, thus fewer were made, albeit, knowing their more discerning customer base, there was more attention given to detail; hand coloring, and quality for example. This example has been framed and housed in museum quality conservation backing for over 80 years. I have had it professionally taken apart and I inspected the folio visually, and examined it with a black light and loop; as a result, I guarantee and can attest to the accuracy of my description of the lithograph. I then had the folio professionally remounted in it's original frame with an upgraded preservation backing (see images of original folios out of frame and for confirmation of inspection). This lithograph has no tears, no touch up paint, and no glued or taped repairs.
This is one of the four iconic and highly desirable set of lithographs made by Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) dated 1855 from the American Country Life series. They are named;
Spring "May Morning";
Summer "Summer Evening";
Fall ""October Afternoon"; and
Winter "Pleasures of Winter".
The lithograph was produced from the painting of well known artist Frances (Fanny) Flora (Bond Palmer (1812-1876). She painted typical American scenes of daily American life that were used by Currier for years to come. She was an accomplished artist by the time she migrated to the United States from England, and Currier commissioned her to do the country scenes for this series. Each of the original images are toned lithographs with applied hand painted watercolor.
The lithograph reflects an affluent life style, showcasing grandiose homes and glamorizing the rural way of living as urban areas became more densely populated with the tidal wave and arrival of immigrants. Nathaniel Currier began his lithograph business in 1835 with hand colored images portraying outdoor panoramic, historical, pastoral, and landmark scenes and events, with which the middle class and the wealthy sought to decorate their houses. James Ives (1824-1895) was his accountant) and would join him later in 1857 to help run the business.
The hand painted lithograph is embellished with script text in the bottom margin of the folio "Entered according to art of congress in the year 1855 by N. Currier in the clerk's office of the southern district of N.Y."
"F.F Palmer Del"--------------------------------------------- "Lith By N. Currier"
An example of this lithograph appear in the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth Texas, having been donated by Carter in 1970
Provenance: Recently acquired from a prominent San Francisco Estate
"The Great Book of Currier & Ives' America" by Walton Rawls memorializes "Summer's Evening" page 184. All examples are from the famous Harry Peters Collection.
Note:
Additional information on these lithographs and more on Currier and Ives' can be found in:
"Mr. Currier & Ives' by Russel Crouse published 1930
and
'"Currier & Ive's The Harry Peters Collection" published 1942
and
"The World of Currier and Ives' by King/Davis published 1972
Please view the other three lithographs I have listed for sale. They are mounted in matching wood bird's eye maple frames and are identical in size. -
More Information
Documentation: Documented elsewhere (similar item) Origin: United States Period: 19th Century Materials: Paper Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Styles / Movements: Victorian Incollect Reference #: 775071 -
Dimensions
W. 32.25 in; H. 26.25 in; D. 1.5 in; W. 81.92 cm; H. 66.68 cm; D. 3.81 cm;
Message from Seller:
Clive Devenish Antiques has been specializing in antique mechanical banks, toys, decorative arts, and 18th and 19th century furniture for over 40 years. For more information, contact 510.414.4545 or email clivedevenishantiques@comcast.net.