Sporting prints by A.B. Frost
[ Chromolithographs | Newspaper Illustrations ]
Arthur Burdett (A.B.) Frost is the most loved member of the school of American sporting artists that appeared towards the end of the nineteenth century. His range of subjects included hunting, fishing, golf, and archery. Born in Philadelphia at the middle of the nineteenth century, Frost grew up watching and participating in the sports he documented, becoming one of the greatest illustrators of sports in America. His work captured the feeling of the sports, and included accurate details. Much of his work appeared as newspaper illustrations in such publications as Century, Scribner's, and Harper's Weekly, and he also had a number of his watercolors produced in the more elaborate format of chromolithography.
Chromolithographs:
A.B. Frost. "Hunting the Deer." From A.C. Gould's Sport, or Fishing and Shooting. Boston: Bradlee Whidden, 1889. 18 x 11 3/4. Chromolithograph. Framed.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, interest in American sporting watercolorists grew tremendously and so A.C. Gould issued a fine portfolio containing chromolithographs after watercolors by the leading American artists, including A.B. Frost. This is one of the rarest of the Frost images. $950
Go to page with listing of other prints from the Sport, or Fishing and Shooting portfolio.
Prints by A.B. Frost. From Shooting Pictures. New York: Charles Scribner & Sons, 1895. All approximately 13 x 20. Chromolithographs by Armstrong & Co, Boston. Very good condition. Bennett: American Color Plate Books, 44.
Shortly after the appearance of the Gould portfolio, a similar portfolio, Shooting Pictures, was issued by Scribner & Sons. It consisted of twelve chromolithographs after Frost. Originally sold by subscription, each of the six parts included two prints and two text sheets. Also included were three pen and ink illustrations of shooting incidents, executed by Frost. The original subscription was limited to 2500 copies, but due to its size and cumbersomeness, many of the portfolios were broken up, the prints often being framed for display. The use of the lighter, French-style of chromolithography enabled the prints to capture the warmth and richness of the original watercolors.
Note that the Frost prints from this series were issued on thick backing boards. Some of the following prints have been removed from this backing board. Enquire for specifics on any particular print.
Prints by A.B. Frost. From The Day's Shooting. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1903. Chromolithographs by the Grignard Litho. Co. Ca. 15 1/2 x 10 1/2.
In the early twentieth century, Charles Scribner's Sons (successor to Scribner & Sons) issued another portfolio of chromolithographs after other Frost images. This portfolio consisted of six chromolithographs that formed pairs, illustrating the very human sporting situations of success and failure.
Newspaper Illustrations:
Many of Frost's images appeared as illustrations in illustrated newspapers in the latter nineteenth century. These original Frost prints are the only way that these images were produced.
- A.B. Frost. "Of Course He Wants to Vote the Democratic Ticket." Democratic Reformer. September 8, 1866. 14 1/4 x 9 1/4.$40
- A.B. Frost. "The Intercollegiate Regatta, Saratoga Lake, July 19, 1876 - The Finish." From Harper's Weekly. New York, 1876. 14 x 20 1/2. Wood engraving. $175
- A.B. Frost. "The Grand International Rifle-Match At Creedmoor-Second Day-Shooting At A Thousand Yards." From Harper's Weekly. New York, September 30, 1876. 13 1/2 x 21. Wood engraving. $125
- A.B. Frost. "An Archery Meeting." From Harper's Weekly. New York, October 18, 1879. 13 1/8 x 20. Wood engraving. An archery meet is shown in the foreground, and a tennis match is depicted in the background. $225
- A.B. Frost. "A College Regatta." From Harper's Weekly. New York, July 17, 1880. 13 1/2 x 19 5/8. Wood engraving. A scene on the Schuylkill where the spectators in the foreground watch the race from rowboats on the river. $395
- A. B. Frost. "Gun Shy." From . New York, October 2, 1880. 9 x 13 1/2. Wood engraving. $80
- A.B. Frost. "Watering Deer-Watching The Lake." From Harper's Weekly. New York, 1883. 9 x 13. Wood engraving. $75
- A.B. Frost. "Hunting Caribou In The Barren Grounds, New Brunswick." From Harper's Weekly. New York, January 5, 1884. 9 x 13. Wood engraving. $75
- A.B. Frost. "The Yale-Harvard Boat-Race At New London." From Harper's Weekly. New York, July 5, 1884. 9 x 13 7/8. Wood engraving. $225
- A.B. Frost. "A Day's Fishing on the Cholera Banks. 1. Patient Waiters. 2. On the Banks. 3. A Little too Rough for Them. 4. An Ugly Customer. 5. Professionals. 6. 'Bound in.' 7. A Dip to Leeward. 8. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. 9. An Interval for Lunch." From Harper's Weekly. New York: November 1, 1884. 9 1/8 x 13 3/8. Wood engraving. Tear in upper right; repaired archivally. Else, very good condition. $60
- A.B. Frost. "Christmas in Camp-Tying Up the Pudding." From Harpers Weekly. New York, December 12, 1885. 13 1/4 x 19 3/4. Wood engraving. Minor stain in bottom margin with binding holes along centerfold. $85
- A.B. Frost. "What'll You Take for Them?" New York, ca. 1890. 9 1/8 x 13 3/4. Screen print. Very good condition. $90
- A.B. Frost. "Golf." From Harper's Weekly. New York: October 12, 1895. 13 5/8 x 9 5/8. Wood engraving. Very good condition. $250
- A.B. Frost. "The Drive." From Harper's Weekly. New York: December 11, 1897. 11 x 8 1/2. Screen print. Very good condition. $250
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