Henry Clay. Nominated for the Eleventh President of the United States

    2 Spruce St., N.Y., N.d. [1844].                                           $ 275.00

Folio.  358 x 255 mm., [14 x 10 inches].  Color lithographic portrait, printed in black ink and hand colored in two colors and highlights of black.  Some foxing and discoloration to the fore head of the figure and to the lower margin where the legend is printed.  Good strong color.

Attractive campaign lithographic portrait of Henry Clay printed by Nathaniel Currier at his studio on Spruce Street.   It is distinguished by its finely delineated facial features and the upright posture of the sitter which gives a sense of power and authority to the figure.  It is probably based on a portrait in oil by John B. Neagle painted in 1842 and sometimes to referred to "Gallant Harry".

Nathaniel Currier began his printing career in Boston, apprenticing to William and John Pendelton.  It was here that he learned the art of lithography before moving to Philadelphia to work at the firm of M. E. D. Brown.  In 1834 he moved to New York, set up a partnership with John Pendelton which broke up almost immediately, and went on his own in 1835.  It took about five years before Currier was able to stop his job printing and focus exclusively on lithography.  By the mid-1840's he had established himself as one of the preeminent lithographers in the country.    In 1857 he formed a partnership with James B. Ives and the imprint Currier & Ives was established.

Linda S. Chase, "Nathaniel Currier", American National Biography On-line.  Jane Cooper Bland, Currier & Ives, A Manual for Collectors, No. 1746.