Object Details
- Baillie, James S.
- Description
- Sentimental genre prints documented the social image of Victorian virtue through domestic scenes of courtship, family, home life, and images of the “genteel female.” Children are depicted studying nature or caring for their obedient pets as they learn their place in the greater world. Romantic scenes picture devoted husbands with their contented, dutiful wives. In these prints, young women educated in reading, music, needlework, the arts, the language of flowers, basic math and science are subjugated to their family’s needs.
- These prints became popular as lithography was introduced to 19th Century Americans. As a new art form, it was affordable for the masses and provided a means to share visual information by crossing the barriers of race, class and language. Sentimental prints encouraged the artistic endeavors of schoolgirls and promoted the ambitions of amateur artists, while serving as both moral instruction and home or business decoration. They are a pictorial record of our romanticized past.
- This colored print is a three-quarter length portrait of a man standing behind a seated woman. Each are holding the other's portrait miniatures. The man is in full dress, black tie and tails, while the woman is in a simple white dress with blue sash and gold jewelry. A patterned drapery and window blind with tasseled pull are in the background.
- This print was produced by James S Baillie, was active in New York from 1838 to 1855. James Baillie started as a framer in 1838, and then became an artist and lithographer in 1843 or 1844. He discovered how to color lithographs while working as an independent contractor for Currier & Ives in the mid 1840’s. A prolific lithographer and colorist for Currier & Ives; his prints were extremely popular with a wide distribution. J. Baillie spent his later years concentrating on painting instead of lithography.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
- ca 1848
- ID Number
- DL.60.2251
- catalog number
- 60.2251
- accession number
- 228146
- Object Name
- lithograph
- Object Type
- Lithograph
- Physical Description
- hand-colored (image production method/technique)
- ink (overall material)
- paper (overall material)
- Measurements
- image: 11 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in; 29.21 cm x 21.59 cm
- overall: 14 1/8 in x 10 1/16 in; 35.8775 cm x 25.55875 cm
- place made
- United States: New York, New York City
- Related Publication
- Peters, Harry T.. America on Stone
- Garvan, Anthony N. B. and Peter C. Welsh. Victorian American
- Welsh, Peter C. and Caroline. The Genteel Female
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
- Clothing & Accessories
- Art
- Peters Prints
- Domestic Furnishings
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Courtship, love
- Furnishings
- Adornment
- Record ID
- nmah_324591
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a1-2e06-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
