The Bark "Theoxena"
Marine views and pictures of ships have long appealed to collectors and popular taste. To meet consumer demand, Nathaniel Currier produced dozens of lithographs of American ships; such prints often generated good publicity for the ship's builder, owner, as well as the captain. The barque (or bark) Theoxena was built in Thomaston, Maine in 1848; this image shows the ship at sea in full sail, flying American and French flags.
Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel recruited his younger brother Charles to help in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907.
Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel recruited his younger brother Charles to help in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Bark "Theoxena"
- Artist: after T. De Latour (American (?))
- Artist: Drawn on stone by John Cameron (American, born Scotland, ca. 1828–after 1896 New York)
- Artist: Lithographed by Charles Currier (American, Roxbury (?), Massachusetts 1818–1887 Brooklyn, New York)
- Date: ca.1850
- Medium: Hand-colored lithograph
- Dimensions: Image: 17 3/16 × 24 1/2 in. (43.7 × 62.2 cm) [height measured at highest point]
Sheet: 20 1/16 × 26 1/16 in. (51 × 66.2 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of Adele S. Colgate, 1962
- Object Number: 63.550.58
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Latour
ca. 1890
Latour
1893
Latour
ca. 1892
James McNeill Whistler
1878
James McNeill Whistler
1879–80
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.