Art

Panorama of the Army of the Cumberland

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.

Grandpre

A charcoal sketch on paper. This landscape shows Grandpre, France. In the foreground is a battleground with dugouts, barbed wire entanglements, and a bare tree on the left.
Description
A charcoal sketch on paper. This landscape shows Grandpre, France. In the foreground is a battleground with dugouts, barbed wire entanglements, and a bare tree on the left. Beyond the battleground are shell torn buildings, including a large church in the center that has some roof damage. The church is most likely the Église Saint-Médard.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1918
associated date
1917-1918
associated person
War Department
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.25989
catalog number
25989
accession number
64592

Abandonment of the Whalers in the Arctic Ocean Sept 1871. Plate 2.

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

Abandonment of the Whalers in the Arctic Ocean Sept 1871. Plate 4.

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

Sperm Whaling with its Varieties

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

Sunny Side. The residence of the late Washington Irving near Tarrytown, N.Y.

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

J. Fenimore Cooper

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

North Sea Whale Fishery.

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

Abandonment of the Whalers in the Arctic Ocean Sept 1871. Plate 3.

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

Philadelphia in the Olden Time.

Color print of a large panoramic view of Philadelphia. The New Jersey shore is in the foreground. A key identifies aspects of the view. Three small vignettes, below the main image above the title, are of the State House, Old Courthouse and Friends Meeting House, and the prison.
Description (Brief)
Color print of a large panoramic view of Philadelphia. The New Jersey shore is in the foreground. A key identifies aspects of the view. Three small vignettes, below the main image above the title, are of the State House, Old Courthouse and Friends Meeting House, and the prison.
Date made
1875
maker
Wade, F. J.
ID Number
DL.60.3752
catalog number
60.3752

Terrible Conflagration and Destruction of the Steam-boat "New Jersey,"

Color print of the steamship "New Jersey" in flames. Passengers are jumping off the ship and many are already in the water. The names of all on board are listed below the image in groupings: the dead {31}, the missing {30}, the saved {46}.
Description (Brief)
Color print of the steamship "New Jersey" in flames. Passengers are jumping off the ship and many are already in the water. The names of all on board are listed below the image in groupings: the dead {31}, the missing {30}, the saved {46}.
Date made
1856
maker
Pharazyn, A.
ID Number
DL.60.3301
catalog number
60.3301

Daniel Griffith

Black and white print; oval bust portrait of a man (Daniel Griffith,1803-1878, a pioneer and founder of Springport Township, Michigan)Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Black and white print; oval bust portrait of a man (Daniel Griffith,1803-1878, a pioneer and founder of Springport Township, Michigan)
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
depicted
Griffith, Daniel
maker
unknown
ID Number
DL.60.3137
catalog number
60.3137
accession number
228146

Cigar Store Indian

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1870-1900
ID Number
CL.65.0997
catalog number
65.0997
accession number
256396

Indian Shop Figure

Made of painted wood. Very little trace of original paint. Small standing figure holding a box of cigars, right hand pointing to label. Large curving feathered headdres, simple tunic with a curled collar carved in a baroque style. Banded sleves and fringed trousers.
Description (Brief)
Made of painted wood. Very little trace of original paint. Small standing figure holding a box of cigars, right hand pointing to label. Large curving feathered headdres, simple tunic with a curled collar carved in a baroque style. Banded sleves and fringed trousers. Legs cut into the log support.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 19th century
ID Number
CL.65.1003
accession number
261195
catalog number
65.1003
collector/donor number
T-42

drawing

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
GA.06566.07
catalog number
06566.07
accession number
19048

drawing

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
GA.06566.02
catalog number
06566.02
accession number
19048

drawing

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
GA.06566.08
catalog number
06566.08
accession number
19048

Cigar Store Indian

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CL.65.0999
catalog number
65.0999
accession number
256396

Cigar Store Indian

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CL.65.0983
accession number
256396
catalog number
65.0983

Indian Figure

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CL.65.1146
catalog number
65.1146
accession number
256396

Indian Shop Figure

Made of stained wood with some paint. Smal, dark-skinned figure holding a pipe in right hand and a bundle of tobacco leaves in the left. Feather headress, feather skirt, and beads around neck.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Made of stained wood with some paint. Smal, dark-skinned figure holding a pipe in right hand and a bundle of tobacco leaves in the left. Feather headress, feather skirt, and beads around neck.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th to early 19th century
ID Number
CL.65.1002
accession number
261195
catalog number
65.1002
collector/donor number
T-20

Indian Shop Figure

Made of carved wood with traces of paint. Standing figure, right hand holds a bundle of cigars. Figure is wearing a simplified, short-sleeved tunic, fringed trousers. Behind figure are stacked tobacco boxes. Simplified banded headdress.
Description (Brief)
Made of carved wood with traces of paint. Standing figure, right hand holds a bundle of cigars. Figure is wearing a simplified, short-sleeved tunic, fringed trousers. Behind figure are stacked tobacco boxes. Simplified banded headdress. Sheaf of tobacco leaves in left hand.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 19th century
ID Number
CL.65.1001
catalog number
65.1001
accession number
261195
collector/donor number
T-43

Whitall Tatum Paperweight

In the 1700s, paperweights made from textured stone or bronze were part of the writer’s tool kit, which also included a quill pen and stand, inkpot, and blotter.
Description
In the 1700s, paperweights made from textured stone or bronze were part of the writer’s tool kit, which also included a quill pen and stand, inkpot, and blotter. By the mid-1800s, decorative paperweights produced by glassmakers in Europe and the United States became highly desired collectibles.
Decorative glass paperweights reflected the 19th-century taste for intricate, over-the-top designs. Until the spread of textiles colorized with synthetic dyes, ceramics and glass were among the few objects that added brilliant color to a 19th-century Victorian interior. The popularity of these paperweights in the 1800s testifies to the sustained cultural interest in hand craftsmanship during an age of rapid industrialization.
This paperweight is attributed to Whitall, Tatum & Company of Millville, New Jersey. The firm was formed in 1901 and employed first-rate craftsmen who created outstanding paperweights.
This pedestal paperweight features an opaque, rich yellow twelve-petal flower, freely suspended in a clear glass ball. The pointed center flower petals suggest that it is the work of glassmaker Emil Stanger.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1905-1912
maker
Whitall, Tatum and Company
ID Number
CE.60.96
catalog number
60.96
accession number
211475

The Road to Essey

Charcoal sketch on white paper. Sketch shows groups of American soldiers marching off into the distance between army motor trucks on a dirt road. The road is surrounded by large dead trees and barbed wire entanglements on either side. Rolling hills and fields in the distance.
Description
Charcoal sketch on white paper. Sketch shows groups of American soldiers marching off into the distance between army motor trucks on a dirt road. The road is surrounded by large dead trees and barbed wire entanglements on either side. Rolling hills and fields in the distance. The sky is very cloudy and dark with observation balloons floating in the distance.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
artist
Smith, J. Andre
ID Number
AF.26080
catalog number
26080
accession number
64592

Talk

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1983
maker
Colo, Papo
ID Number
2013.0327.0328
accession number
2013.0327
catalog number
2013.0327.0328

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