Object Details
- Kurz & Allison-Art Studio
- Description
- Chromolithographic colored print dramatically depicting the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17th, 1775. Scene shows British and American forces engaged in combat on a hill. British ships at sea in background. Note the posed wounded and dying soldiers, including that of Doctor Joseph Warren, who was mortally wounded and is being assisted by Colonel John Chester of Connecticut. Prince Estabrook, an African American slave who volunteered to fight with the Lexington Massachusetts Militia is also present on the field of battle. The image is after a painting by John Trumbull depicting the Death of General Warren. The text below the image indicates the losses: June 17th, 1775. - Howe, Com. British, Loss: 1054. (Maj. Pitcain Kd.) Prescott, Com. Americans, Loss: 450 (Gen. Warren Kd.)
- The depiction supports the story that General Warren was shot in the face while rallying the troops against the oncoming British. He was buried on the field of battle on Breeds Hill and supposedly his body was later identified by Paul Revere, who as well as being a silversmith was also a dentist, and was able to identify his body by recognizing his dental work.
- Louis Kurz was a mural and scene painter before the Civil War, explaining the mural-like format of the images. His illustrations also appear to have been inspired by cycloramas, which were popular at the time, such as Paul Philippoteaux’s Gettysburg Cyclorama. Kurz was an Austrian immigrant who settled in Chicago during the 1850s, where he formed a partnership with Henry Seifert of Milwaukee. He later fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. After the conflict, he co-founded the Chicago Lithographic Company. When the company’s assets were destroyed during the Chicago Fire of 1871, Kurz started a new business with his partner, financial backer, and business manager, Alexander Allison.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
- ca 1890
- 1885-1896
- ID Number
- DL.60.2631
- catalog number
- 60.2631
- accession number
- 228146
- Object Name
- Chromolithograph
- Object Type
- Chromolithograph
- Measurements
- image: 17 1/2 in x 25 in; 44.45 cm x 63.5 cm
- place made
- United States: Illinois, Chicago
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
- Art
- Domestic Furnishings
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Revolutionary War
- Patriotism and Patriotic Symbols
- depicted
- Uniforms, Military
- related event
- American Revolution
- Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775
- Record ID
- nmah_324939
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-bc87-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
