Details
Creator Sartain, John, 1808-1897, engraver.
Contributor Schussele, Christian, 1826?-1879, artist.
Irwin, James, printer.
Schussele, Christian, 1826?-1879, artist.
Swain, Abell, & Simmons, publisher.
Title The Ledger carrier's annual greeting. To their subscribers, New Year, 1855. [graphic] / Drawn by Schuessele [sic]; engraved by Sartain.
Alternate Title Public ledger (Philadelphia, Pa. : 1836)
Publisher [Philadelphia] : Printed by Irwin
Publisher PA. Philadelphia. 1854
Date [1854]
Physical Description 1 print : engraving ; sheet 35 x 33 cm (13.5 x 13 in.)
Description Allegorical print depicting female allegorical figures in front of a temple of Justice. Depicts in the left, Peace as a white woman attired in a laurel wreath crown and a white Roman gown, standing across from the white figure of Liberty and pointing with her left hand toward the temple in the background. Liberty, wearing the American flag as a cape, and with a liberty pole and cap in hand, charges toward the temple. Three muse-like female followers, including two white women, one holding an urn, and a Black woman, looking toward the temple, stand alongside her. Behind Peace, a white cherub stands by a stack of books. Scene also includes a discarded shield and sword laying on the ground in the foreground.
Notes Title from item.
Presumably issued late in 1854 by Swain, Abell & Simons, the publisher of the Philadelphia newspaper, the Public Ledger, for their subscribers.
Printed below the image: Printing! the art of every art preserver. The lever that uplifts the world of mind. Of Justice, Peace, and Human Rights conserver; The sense of vision to the mental blind. The torch of genius flashes o’er its pages, Illumes Fame’s temple with its dazzling ray. And marks the means for moulding future ages, In universal education’s sway.
Purchase 1984.
RVCDC
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Biographical / historical note Sartain, a premier Philadelphia portrait and genre engraver of the 19th century, was also a social reformer who often incorporated his reformist beliefs into his work.
Schussele was a historical, genre, landscape, and portrait painter and respected professor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts whose paintings his professional associate and friend, John Sartain, often engraved.
Subject Allegories.
Cherubs.
Justice.
Liberty.
Peace.
Pointing fingers.
Temples.
Women.
Women, Black.
Black women.
Genre Allegorical prints -- 1850-1860.
Carriers' greetings -- 1858.
Engravings -- 1850-1860.
Illustrator Schussele, Christian, 1826?-1879, artist.
Printer Swain, Abell, & Simmons, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| *GC - Allegories - L [P.9000.1]
Accession number P.9000.1