Art - Overview

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.
"Art - Overview" showing 2693 items.
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Mallard Shooting
- Description (Brief)
- This print is one of fifteen chromolithographs that were included in the 1889-1890 folio "Sport or Fishing and Shooting" published by Bradlee Whidden of Boston and edited by A.C. Gould. These prints are based on watercolors that were commissioned for the publication, and illustrated by prominent American artists. Each folio illustration was accompanied by a single leaf of descriptive text followed by an account of the depicted sporting scene. The publication was advertised as having been reviewed for accuracy by a renowned group of anglers and hunters prior to printing.
- This print was originally titled and numbered on the text page as 7. Mallard Shooting. S.F. Denton. It depicts two men in a boat in a marsh. One man is shooting at mallard ducks while the other is paddling.
- The artist was Sherman Foote Denton (1856-1937), a naturalist and noted illustrator of drawings of fish. Denton also invented a method of mounting fish that preserved their colors as in life. His work was frequently commissioned by the U.S. Fish Commision, forerunner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890
- publisher; copywriter
- Bradlee Whidden
- lithographer
- Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
- artist
- Denton, Sherman Foote
- ID Number
- DL*60.2722
- catalog number
- 60.2722
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
A Wild Turkey Hunt
- Description (Brief)
- This print is one of fifteen chromolithographs that were included in the 1889-1890 folio "Sport or Fishing and Shooting" published by Bradlee Whidden of Boston and edited by A.C. Gould. These prints are based on watercolors that were commissioned for the publication, and illustrated by prominent American artists. Each folio illustration was accompanied by a single leaf of descriptive text followed by an account of the depicted sporting scene. The publication was advertised as having been reviewed for accuracy by a renowned group of anglers and hunters prior to printing.
- This print was originally titled and numbered on the text page as 9. A wild Turkey hunt. R.F. Zogbaum. It depicts a young man lying in the grass aiming his rifle at four turkeys. A young Indian guide is crouched behind him.
- The artist was Rufus Fairchild Zogbaum (1849-1925), known for his images of horses, cowboys, and battle scenes.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890
- publisher; copywriter
- Bradlee Whidden
- lithographer
- Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
- artist
- Zogbaum, Rufas Fairchild
- ID Number
- DL*60.2723
- catalog number
- 60.2723
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Goose Shooting
- Description (Brief)
- This print is one of fifteen chromolithographs that were included in the 1889-1890 folio "Sport or Fishing and Shooting" published by Bradlee Whidden of Boston and edited by A.C. Gould. These prints are based on watercolors that were commissioned for the publication, and illustrated by prominent American artists. Each folio illustration was accompanied by a single leaf of descriptive text followed by an account of the depicted sporting scene. The publication was advertised as having been reviewed for accuracy by a renowned group of anglers and hunters prior to printing.
- This print was originally titled and numbered on the text page as 14. [Canada] Goose Shooting. Frederic Remington. Depicted are two hunters with rifles lying on a bank beside a body of water. A dog and two dead geese are lying beside them. Geese are flying in a "V" formation in the distant background.
- This print is by well known western artist, Frederick Remington (1861-1909). It is one of his first two prints to be issued in color and was published less than a decade after Remington first traveled to the American West. After Remington died, the print was reissued under the title "Pheasant Shooting."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1889
- publisher; copywriter
- Bradlee Whidden
- lithographer
- Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
- artist
- Remington, Frederic
- ID Number
- DL*60.2728
- catalog number
- 60.2728
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
A Hunt Above The Timber Line
- Description (Brief)
- This print is one of fifteen chromolithographs that were included in the 1889-1890 folio "Sport or Fishing and Shooting" published by Bradlee Whidden of Boston and edited by A.C. Gould. These prints are based on watercolors that were commissioned for the publication, and illustrated by prominent American artists. Each folio illustration was accompanied by a single leaf of descriptive text followed by an account of the depicted sporting scene. The publication was advertised as having been reviewed for accuracy by a renowned group of anglers and hunters prior to printing.
- This print was originally titled and numbered on the text page as 13. A hunt above the timber line [Big-horn]. Edward Knobel. Depicted are four big horn sheep running across boulders in the foreground. A fifth sheep falls, shot by one of two hunters visible in the left background.
- The artist was Edward Knobel (1839-1908), noted for his illustrations of plants and animals.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890
- publisher; copywiter
- Bradlee Whidden
- lithographer
- Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company
- artist
- Knobel, Edward
- ID Number
- DL*60.2730
- catalog number
- 60.2730
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Tarandus Furcifer, Agassiz
- Description (Brief)
- This hand-colored lithograph was produced for “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” the Imperial folio edition, published between 1845 and 1848. The work was a field study of North American mammals. It included 150 stone lithographs produced in three volumes of 50 prints per volume. The lithographs were based on watercolor drawings by John James Audubon and after 1846, son John Woodhouse Audubon, who completed the series due to the elder Audubon’s failing eyesight and declining health. Another son, Victor Gifford Audubon, assisted with the drawings backgrounds. The lithographs were printed on non-watermarked heavy white paper and coloring was applied by hand before the prints were bound. Reverend John Bachman was a naturalist of note, as well as John James Audubon’s friend and father of both daughter-in-laws, so he provided the accompanying letterpress narrative. It made the production truly a family affair. The slightly later Octavo edition contained 155 prints of smaller size.
- This unbound lithographic plate depicts a hand-colored image of two male reindeer on boulders, with forested foothills in the background. One is in summer pelage (coat) the other in winter pelage (coat).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1847
- artist
- Audubon, John Woodhouse
- printer
- Bowen, John T.
- publisher
- Audubon, John James
- ID Number
- DL*60.2734
- catalog number
- 60.2734
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Canis Lupus, Linn (Var Albus)
- Description (Brief)
- This hand-colored lithograph was produced for “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” the Imperial folio edition, published between 1845 and 1848. The work was a field study of North American mammals. It included 150 stone lithographs produced in three volumes of 50 prints per volume. The lithographs were based on watercolor drawings by John James Audubon and after 1846, son John Woodhouse Audubon, who completed the series due to the elder Audubon’s failing eyesight and declining health. Another son, Victor Gifford Audubon, assisted with the drawings backgrounds. The lithographs were printed on non-watermarked heavy white paper and coloring was applied by hand before the prints were bound. Reverend John Bachman was a naturalist of note, as well as John James Audubon’s friend and father of both daughter-in-laws, so he provided the accompanying letterpress narrative. It made the production truly a family affair. The slightly later Octavo edition contained 155 prints of smaller size.
- This unbound lithographic plate depicts a hand-colored image of a white male wolf crouching in a clearing and chewing on a bone.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1845
- printer
- Bowen, John T.
- artist; publisher
- Audubon, John James
- ID Number
- DL*60.2735
- catalog number
- 60.2735
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Feles Concolor, Linn
- Description (Brief)
- This hand-colored lithograph was produced for “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” the Imperial folio edition, published between 1845 and 1848. The work was a field study of North American mammals. It included 150 stone lithographs produced in three volumes of 50 prints per volume. The lithographs were based on watercolor drawings by John James Audubon and after 1846, son John Woodhouse Audubon, who completed the series due to the elder Audubon’s failing eyesight and declining health. Another son, Victor Gifford Audubon, assisted with the drawings backgrounds. The lithographs were printed on non-watermarked heavy white paper and coloring was applied by hand before the prints were bound. Reverend John Bachman was a naturalist of note, as well as John James Audubon’s friend and father of both daughter-in-laws, so he provided the accompanying letterpress narrative. It made the production truly a family affair. The slightly later Octavo edition contained 155 prints of smaller size.
- This unbound lithographic plate depicts a hand-colored image of a brown male cougar standing over his felled prey. Forested mountains in the background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1846
- artist
- Audubon, John Woodhouse
- printer
- Bowen, John T.
- publisher
- Audubon, John James
- ID Number
- DL*60.2736
- catalog number
- 60.2736
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovibos Moschatus, Gmel
- Description (Brief)
- This hand-colored lithograph was produced for “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” the Imperial folio edition, published between 1845 and 1848. The work was a field study of North American mammals. It included 150 stone lithographs produced in three volumes of 50 prints per volume. The lithographs were based on watercolor drawings by John James Audubon and after 1846, son John Woodhouse Audubon, who completed the series due to the elder Audubon’s failing eyesight and declining health. Another son, Victor Gifford Audubon, assisted with the drawings backgrounds. The lithographs were printed on non-watermarked heavy white paper and coloring was applied by hand before the prints were bound. Reverend John Bachman was a naturalist of note, as well as John James Audubon’s friend and father of both daughter-in-laws, so he provided the accompanying letterpress narrative. It made the production truly a family affair. The slightly later Octavo edition contained 155 prints of smaller size.
- This unbound lithographic plate depicts a hand-colored image of two male musk oxen standing on a grassy plateau with rocky mountains in the background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1847
- artist
- Audubon, John Woodhouse
- printer
- Bowen, John T.
- publisher
- Audubon, John James
- ID Number
- DL*60.2737
- catalog number
- 60.2737
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Myodes Hudsonius, Rich
- Description (Brief)
- This hand-colored lithograph was produced for “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” the Imperial folio edition, published between 1845 and 1848. The work was a field study of North American mammals. It included 150 stone lithographs produced in three volumes of 50 prints per volume. The lithographs were based on watercolor drawings by John James Audubon and after 1846, son John Woodhouse Audubon, who completed the series due to the elder Audubon’s failing eyesight and declining health. Another son, Victor Gifford Audubon, assisted with the drawings backgrounds. The lithographs were printed on non-watermarked heavy white paper and coloring was applied by hand before the prints were bound. Reverend John Bachman was a naturalist of note, as well as John James Audubon’s friend and father of both daughter-in-laws, so he provided the accompanying letterpress narrative. It made the production truly a family affair. The slightly later Octavo edition contained 155 prints of smaller size.
- This unbound lithographic plate depicts a hand-colored image of a large white lemming and a smaller brown lemming crouching on boulders amidst wildflowers.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1847
- artist
- Audubon, John Woodhouse
- printer
- Bowen, John T.
- publisher
- Audubon, John James
- ID Number
- DL*60.2738
- catalog number
- 60.2738
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Aplodontia Leporina, Rich
- Description (Brief)
- This hand-colored lithograph was produced for “Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America,” the Imperial folio edition, published between 1845 and 1848. The work was a field study of North American mammals. It included 150 stone lithographs produced in three volumes of 50 prints per volume. The lithographs were based on watercolor drawings by John James Audubon and after 1846, son John Woodhouse Audubon, who completed the series due to the elder Audubon’s failing eyesight and declining health. Another son, Victor Gifford Audubon, assisted with the drawings backgrounds. The lithographs were printed on non-watermarked heavy white paper and coloring was applied by hand before the prints were bound. Reverend John Bachman was a naturalist of note, as well as John James Audubon’s friend and father of both daughter-in-laws, so he provided the accompanying letterpress narrative. It made the production truly a family affair. The slightly later Octavo edition contained 155 prints of smaller size.
- This unbound lithographic plate depicts a hand-colored image of brown sewellel (a short-furred animal with fanged teeth) crouching on boulders beside a lake.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1847
- artist
- Audubon, John Woodhouse
- printer
- Bowen, John T.
- publisher
- Audubon, John James
- ID Number
- DL*60.2739
- catalog number
- 60.2739
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center

