Louis Prang & Co. Prints

Louis Prang, from Boston, was the most prolific and influential publisher of American chromolithographs. Born in Germany, Prang learned to print in color from his father, a calico printer. In 1850, the younger Prang immigrated to the United States for political reasons. After a short-lived partnership as a chromolithographic printmaker with Julius Mayer (Prang & Mayer), Prang set up his own firm of L. Prang & Co. in 1860. Initially, his success was fueled by public consumption of his many small prints, which were popular for collections and albums. Within his first ten years of business, Prang started to issue color-printed copies of famous paintings and launched his magazine, Prang's Chromo: A Journal of Popular Art. Prang's prints, which were "sold in all Picture stores," were based on oils and watercolors and received highly praised from the press and many influential persons. More than any other print publisher, Prang created the market for chromolithographs in America, and his work was highly influential on firms around the country. With great success, Prang issued about 800 such art prints, advertising them as

Thomas Hill. "Birthplace of Whittier, The Poet." [Haverhill, Mass.] Boston: L. Prang & Co., ca. 1865. Chromolithograph. 17 x 26. Mounted on original canvas and stretcher and in original wood frame. With some small repairs in image. Overall, very good condition and appearance.

There were several levels of quality for Prang's chromolithographs, with the most elaborate published backed on linen and stretcher, as in the case of this excellent print of the home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807. American views were particular popular subjects for Prang's chromolithographs and this is one of the larger and better quality prints issued by the firm, evidence of the popularity of the home of this American poet and abolitionist. $1,200

After Correggio. "Correggio's Magdalena." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1867. 12 3/4 x 16 1/2. Chromolithograph. Mounted and with original label as issued. In period frame.

This lovely image was aimed at those who desired the sophistication of European oils but could not afford to purchase the real thing. Though affordable compared to paintings, this print was still one of the most expensive Prang issued, selling for $10. Even for the price, consumers felt this was a worthy buy - as the art journal The Aldine noted in 1869, "For ten dollars the working man may glorify his house with one of Correggio's masterpieces…." A fine example of Prang's most beloved type of print. $475

Eastman Johnson. "The Barefoot Boy." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1867-69. 12 3/4 x 9 3/4. Chromolithograph. In classic period frame.

Johnson's "The Barefoot Boy" is one of the most famous of all Prang's chromos, advertised by Prang as the personification of the American character: the boy "in homespun clothing, barefooted," symbolizing "that self-reliant aspect which characterizes the rural and backwoods children." Based by Eastman Johnson on John Greenleaf Whittier's poem, "The Barefoot Boy," the print was praised in magazines and books as the paradigm of the quality chromolithographs could display, and Prang claimed that it was "the most popular of all our publications." It took three months to make the twenty-six stones used to make this print and another five months to print the first run. For promotion, Prang provided free copies to the poet and painter and then quoted their replies in his advertisements. Whittier wrote, "It is a charming illustration of my little poem, and in every way satisfactory as a work of art"; and Johnson claimed that, "It strikes me as being one of the best chromolithographs I have ever seen." This print is not only a classic American genre image, but it is a wonderful example of the quality of prints published by the greatest of American chromolithograph publishers. $600

Felix Schlesinger. "A Friend In Need." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1867. Chromolithograph. Mounted on board with original label. Very good condition. Framed.

This print reflects Prang's own response to the success of "The Barefoot Boy." Based on a painting by a German artist, the European dress and setting would have appealed to the huge potential market of European immigrants, who were less likely to respond to the American paradigm of Johnson's image. $425

Arthur F. Tait. "Maternal Love." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1870. 10 1/2 x 14 1/4. Mounted on board with original labels. In period frame.

A.F. Tait's art work is well known to collectors of Currier & Ives prints, but his paintings were also the subject for a number of memorable chromolithographs issued by Louis Prang. In fact, according to Peter Marzio (The Democratic Art, p.102f), the 1866 chromo of Tait's "Group of Chickens" was Prang's first real success in the market for popular, frameable prints. Selling for $5.00 each, thirty thousand copies of this print were distributed within two years. Inspired by the success of this image, Prang commissioned Tait to produce other, similar paintings which Prang made into chromos. These included "Group of Ducklings," "Pointer and Quail," "Cocker Spaniel and Woodcock," "Kluck, Kluck," and this print of "Maternal Love." The print demonstrates by the skill of Tait in rendering a charming natural history vignette, and the clear success that Prang had in producing a chromolithograph that does indeed "do justice to its merits." JT ON APPROVAL

James M. Hart. "Scene near Farmington, Ct. Autumn." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1871. Chromolithograph. 9 x 16. Mounted on board with original label. Slight blemish in sky. Otherwise, very good condition. In period frame.

Louis Prang was the most successful American publisher of chromolithographs partly because he had a good sense of what the general public liked. One of the most popular subjects for art was views of American scenes, and this charming image of the landscape near Farmington, Connecticut is a fine example of such a view by Prang. Taken from a painting by James M. Hart, and it is a fine scene of New England in the autumn. $475

Timoléon Marie Lobrichon. "First Lesson in Music." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1870. Chromolithograph. 17 3/4 x 14 3/4. Mounted on board with original label. With two small nicks in surface; otherwise, very good condition. Framed in period frame.

Another European source was used for this charming print showing a young girl helping her baby sibling blow on a toy horn. It was based a painting by T.M. Lobrichon, a French genre artist known particularly for his images of children. It is a charming scene and a fine example of Prang's output. $525

Charles Verlat. "Baby In Trouble." Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1869. Chromolithograph. 16 1/2 x 13 1/2. Mounted on board with original label. Very good condition. Framed in period frame.

Michel Marie Charles Verlat (1824-1890) was a well-regarded Belgian painter, and this image of a child and dog is delightful. $425

After A.F. Tait. "Ducklings." Boston: L. Prang, 1866. 10 x 12 1/4. Very good condition. In period frame with publisher's original label.

A charming print after noted sporting and wildlife artist Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait. The sentiment and subject matter of such images made them a natural fit for nineteenth century homes. $350

After J.F. Herring. "Just Caught." Boston: L. Prang, ca.1860- 1880's. 7 3/4 x 12 /4. Minor surface abrasions. Otherwise, very good condition. In period frame.

In addition to his American sporting images by Tait, Prang issued some British sporting prints, as popular in the nineteenth century as they are today. This bright image is based on work by one of the greatest British artists of this genre, J.F. Herring. $450

After Joseph Morviller. "Sunlight in Winter." Boston: L. Prang, ca. 1860- 1870. 16 x 23 1/2. Some surface abrasion, wear, and aged varnish. Fair condition.

A Prang image of a winter scene by American artist Joseph Morviller (1800-1870). Despite its condition problems, still a print with considerable appeal. $375

"El Capitan." Boston: L. Prang & Co., ca. 1871. 7 x 5. Chromolithograph on textured paper. Margins trimmed to image as issued.

A handsome small view of El Capitan in Yosemite, by an unknown artist. The majestic rock formation towers in the distance, as two figures rest on a riverside boulder in the foreground. $185

Plate 12. "Trades & Occupations. Printer." From Prang's Aid for Object Teaching. Boston: L. Prang & Co, 1874. 6 5/8 x 10 7/8. Chromolithograph. Rare. In period frame. Very good condition. (Companion print, "Lithographer," also available).

An interesting and unusual image of a tradesman's work in the 19th century. $450

Thure de Thulstrup. "Battle of Chattanooga, November 25, 1863." Boston: L. Prang, 1887. 15 x 21 7/8. Chromolithograph. Slight crease in bottom left, light water stain top left, and minor chip at top.

A striking image that is one of the rare and important Civil War series issued by Louis Prang between 1886 and 1888. In the early 1880s, Century Magazine issued a very popular work entitled Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, and Chicago printers Kurz & Allison issued a large chromolithograph of Gettysburg. In response to their success, Louis Prang published a portfolio of 18 elaborate chromolithographs of important battles of the war. Naming them "aquarelle facsimile prints," Prang hoped to distinguish them from simpler chromos. Though he claimed they were made by a "new and secret process," they were primarily chromolithographs accomplished without any line work. Based on watercolors commissioned by Prang, they were intended to be naturalistic and accurate, well-suited to Prang's target market of veterans and their descendants. Prang gathered testimonials to the images' accuracy from prominent veterans, and he included detailed text on the battles involved. The prints were quite popular and helped to create a great surge in patriotic nostalgia about the war.

Spotlighting war heroes still alive at the time of printing, Prang intended something for everyone, offering six scenes each of eastern battles, western battles, and naval images (18 prints in total). Issued either as a portfolio set or separately (suitable for framing), the chromos were firstissued in parts over time and were later packaged according to subject matter (East, West, or Naval). (Note: these are not to be confused with the more common later editions of Prang's chromos, issued by the American Lithographic Company. Not only are the originals more finely produced, but they also are much more scarce).

This print shows the action at Chattanooga. From the top of a hill, General Ulysses S. Grant uses a field glass to follow the Union assault on Missionary Ridge. Grant is joined by Generals Gordon Granger (left) and George H. Thomas, whose chief of staff would later describe this image as a "beautiful lifelike picture." Thulstrup's details are noteworthy, from the orderly that holds the general's horses in the foreground to the artillery smoke rising from the distant enemy. $850

Go to listing of other prints from this series of Prang Civil War images

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