Art

The National Museum of American History is not an art museum. But works of art fill its collections and testify to the vital place of art in everyday American life. The ceramics collections hold hundreds of examples of American and European art glass and pottery. Fashion sketches, illustrations, and prints are part of the costume collections. Donations from ethnic and cultural communities include many homemade religious ornaments, paintings, and figures. The Harry T Peters "America on Stone" collection alone comprises some 1,700 color prints of scenes from the 1800s. The National Quilt Collection is art on fabric. And the tools of artists and artisans are part of the Museum's collections, too, in the form of printing plates, woodblock tools, photographic equipment, and potters' stamps, kilns, and wheels.

Thomas Sinclair (ca 1805-1881) of Philadelphia produced this chromolithographic print of "Phalacrocorax brasilianus [GM]" or Neotropic cormorant, from an original illustration by William Dreser (ca 1820, fl. 1849-1860).
Description (Brief)
Thomas Sinclair (ca 1805-1881) of Philadelphia produced this chromolithographic print of "Phalacrocorax brasilianus [GM]" or Neotropic cormorant, from an original illustration by William Dreser (ca 1820, fl. 1849-1860). The image was published as Plate XXVIII in Volume 2, following page 204 of Appendix F (Zoology-Birds) by John Cassin (1813-1869) in the report describing "The U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere during the Years 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852" by James M. Gillis (1811-1865). The volume was printed in 1855 by A. O. P. Nicholson (1808-1876) of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1855
graphic artist
Sinclair, Thomas
original artist
Dreser, William
publisher
United States Navy
printer
Nicholson, A. O. P.
author
Cassin, John
Gilliss, James Melville
ID Number
2008.0175.02
accession number
2008.0175
catalog number
2008.0175.02
Henrietta Shore (1880-1963) was an early pioneer of the Modernism movement of art on the West Coast. She discovered lithography while traveling in Mexico, and took inspiration from the southern landscape and indigenous traditions.
Description (Brief)
Henrietta Shore (1880-1963) was an early pioneer of the Modernism movement of art on the West Coast. She discovered lithography while traveling in Mexico, and took inspiration from the southern landscape and indigenous traditions. On returning to California in 1928, Shore began working in the Los Angeles lithography workshop of master printer Lynton Kistler making her one of the first women lithographers working in California. "Water Carrier" was one of the prints produced during her time there.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1928
original artist
Shore, Henrietta
graphic artist
Kistler, Lynton R.
ID Number
1978.0650.1746
accession number
1978.0650
catalog number
1978.0650.1746
Colored print of a view of Boston with Boston Common in the foreground and the bay in the background. Houses, churches, warehouses and industrial buildings are depicted. The bay is filled with sailing ships.
Description (Brief)
Colored print of a view of Boston with Boston Common in the foreground and the bay in the background. Houses, churches, warehouses and industrial buildings are depicted. The bay is filled with sailing ships.
Date made
1850
maker
Bachmann, John
Sarony & Major
ID Number
DL.60.3745
catalog number
60.3745
Black and white print; half length portrait of a man (R. Walsh Jr.) with his head resting on his hand and his elbow resting on an open book.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print; half length portrait of a man (R. Walsh Jr.) with his head resting on his hand and his elbow resting on an open book.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Sully, Thomas
Childs, Cephas Grier
ID Number
DL.60.3135
catalog number
60.3135
accession number
228146
Black and white print; bust portrait of a man (Henry Inman). Facsimile of sitter's signature is below the image.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print; bust portrait of a man (Henry Inman). Facsimile of sitter's signature is below the image.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
depicted
Inman, Henry
maker
Prevost, Victor
Nagel, Louis
original artist
Lazarus
ID Number
DL.60.3127
catalog number
60.3127
accession number
228146
Black and white print; oval bust portrait of a man (Alois Senefelder).Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print; oval bust portrait of a man (Alois Senefelder).
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
depicted
Senefelder, Alois
maker
Waldeck, Franz
ID Number
DL.60.3124
catalog number
60.3124
accession number
228146
Black and white print of a small town in hilly wooded area.
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of a small town in hilly wooded area.
Date made
1853
associated date
1853
maker
Britton & Rey
artist
Goddard, George Henry
ID Number
DL.60.3817
catalog number
60.3817
Color print of two steamboats (the "Diana" and the "Baltic") travelling at full speed with smoke pouring from their double stacks. Other steamboats are in the background and a flatboat with several men is in the right foreground.
Description (Brief)
Color print of two steamboats (the "Diana" and the "Baltic") travelling at full speed with smoke pouring from their double stacks. Other steamboats are in the background and a flatboat with several men is in the right foreground.
Date made
1859
maker
Fuller, George F.
Weingartner, Adam
ID Number
DL.60.3292
catalog number
60.3292
Color print of a whaling scene. Huge whale in the foreground is being harpooned by a whaler while five others steady the boat. In the background is a whale boat that is being capsized by a whale and three whaling vessels.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene. Huge whale in the foreground is being harpooned by a whaler while five others steady the boat. In the background is a whale boat that is being capsized by a whale and three whaling vessels.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1862
copyright holder; publisher
Charles Taber & Co.
maker
Endicott and Company
original artist
Gifford, Robert Swain
Beest, Albert Van
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3249
catalog number
60.3249
Black and white print of whaling ships and small whaling boats. The whaling ships are receiving the captains, officiers and crews of the abandoned whalers. The seven whaling ship names are listed below the image and above the title.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of whaling ships and small whaling boats. The whaling ships are receiving the captains, officiers and crews of the abandoned whalers. The seven whaling ship names are listed below the image and above the title.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872
maker
Bufford, John Henry
Newell, J.P.
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3260
catalog number
60.3260
Color print of a whaling scene. Two whale boats, each with four oarsman, a steersman, and a spearman, chase a whale in the foreground. Other chases take place in the background. Three whaling vessels in full sail are in the distance.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene. Two whale boats, each with four oarsman, a steersman, and a spearman, chase a whale in the foreground. Other chases take place in the background. Three whaling vessels in full sail are in the distance.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1859
publisher; copyright holder
Charles Taber & Co.
maker
Endicott and Company
original artist
Beest, Albert Van
Gifford, Robert Swain
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3248
catalog number
60.3248
Black and white print of whaling ships; three whaling vessels are anchored in the ice while one, the bark Roman, is trapped and sinking. Men are escaping to the other ships. All the ships names are listed below the image and above the title.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of whaling ships; three whaling vessels are anchored in the ice while one, the bark Roman, is trapped and sinking. Men are escaping to the other ships. All the ships names are listed below the image and above the title.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872
maker
Bufford, John Henry
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
maker
Newell, J.P.
ID Number
DL.60.3256
catalog number
60.3256
Color print of a whaling scene; one large whaling vessel in foreground and one in the background are anchored awaiting men in smaller boats who are attacking whales.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene; one large whaling vessel in foreground and one in the background are anchored awaiting men in smaller boats who are attacking whales.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Baillie, James S.
ID Number
DL.60.3255
catalog number
60.3255
Color print depicting a river with several small sailboats and a large steamship labeled "Walk in the Water" in the foreground. Far shore contains a small settlement.
Description (Brief)
Color print depicting a river with several small sailboats and a large steamship labeled "Walk in the Water" in the foreground. Far shore contains a small settlement.
Date made
n.d.
maker
Calvert Lithographing and Engraving Company
ID Number
DL.60.3796
catalog number
60.3796
Black and white print of a frigate (Mississippi) almost totally swamped by high seas on her passage from Simoda, Japan to the Sandwich Islands on the 7th of October 1854.
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of a frigate (Mississippi) almost totally swamped by high seas on her passage from Simoda, Japan to the Sandwich Islands on the 7th of October 1854.
Date made
1854
maker
Brown, Eliphalet Jr.
Britton & Rey
original artist
Heine, W
ID Number
DL.60.3287
catalog number
60.3287
Color print depicting a varied group of individuals along the banks of a river performing tasks related to gold mining; digging, sifting, washing, etc.
Description (Brief)
Color print depicting a varied group of individuals along the banks of a river performing tasks related to gold mining; digging, sifting, washing, etc.
Date made
n.d.
distributor
Ensign, Thayer and Company
maker
Kelloggs & Comstock
ID Number
DL.60.3829
catalog number
60.3829
Color print of a whaling scene; five rigged whaling vessels wait while men in two smaller vessels engage in a variety of activities. Captions below the image identify the activities. Walrus on ice on left and right foreground.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene; five rigged whaling vessels wait while men in two smaller vessels engage in a variety of activities. Captions below the image identify the activities. Walrus on ice on left and right foreground.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1871
maker
Bufford, John Henry
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3252
catalog number
60.3252
Black and white print of whaling ships; nine whaling vessels are on the edge of an ice field while one, the Awashonks, is trapped. All the ships names are listed below the image and above the title.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of whaling ships; nine whaling vessels are on the edge of an ice field while one, the Awashonks, is trapped. All the ships names are listed below the image and above the title.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872
maker
Bufford, John Henry
Newell, J.P.
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3257
catalog number
60.3257
Black and white print of six small whaling boats in open water between the ice and shore. Numerous canoes are pulled up on shore and people, campfires, and tents are visible in the background.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of six small whaling boats in open water between the ice and shore. Numerous canoes are pulled up on shore and people, campfires, and tents are visible in the background.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872
maker
Bufford, John Henry
Newell, J.P.
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3259
catalog number
60.3259
Color print of a whaling scene; four rigged whaling vessels wait while men in smaller vessels engage in a variety of activities. Captions below the image identify the activities.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene; four rigged whaling vessels wait while men in smaller vessels engage in a variety of activities. Captions below the image identify the activities.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870
maker
Bufford, John Henry
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3251
catalog number
60.3251
Color print of a country estate with a river and sailboats in the background. Two gardeners are working on the lawn and in the left foreground is a man sitting on a bench with a dog at his feet.
Description (Brief)
Color print of a country estate with a river and sailboats in the background. Two gardeners are working on the lawn and in the left foreground is a man sitting on a bench with a dog at his feet. Sunnyside, waspurchased and renovated by Washington Irving.in 1835 and was his residence until his death in 1859. The home was purchased in 1947 by John D. Rocefeller and opened to the public. It is a National Historic Landmark.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Currier & Ives
ID Number
DL.60.3235
catalog number
60.3235
Black and white print; bust portrait of a man (James Fenimore Cooper).Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print; bust portrait of a man (James Fenimore Cooper).
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
depicted
Cooper, James Fenimore
publisher
Peabody & Co.
Childs & Inman
maker
Pendleton's Lithography
ID Number
DL.60.3130
catalog number
60.3130
accession number
228146
Color print of a whaling scene; two large whalers are anchored amid floating ice. Men are attacking whales from smaller boats and ice. Seals?, walrus, narwhal, are on the ice.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print of a whaling scene; two large whalers are anchored amid floating ice. Men are attacking whales from smaller boats and ice. Seals?, walrus, narwhal, are on the ice.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
maker
Baillie, James S.
Clay, Edward Williams
ID Number
DL.60.3254
catalog number
60.3254
Black and white print of whaling ships; seventeen whaling vessels are on the edge of an ice field. All the ships names are listed below the image and above the title.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print of whaling ships; seventeen whaling vessels are on the edge of an ice field. All the ships names are listed below the image and above the title.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872
maker
Bufford, John Henry
Newell, J.P.
original artist
Russell, Benjamin
ID Number
DL.60.3258
catalog number
60.3258

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