- Title: Ulysses S. Grant
- Author: Kurz & Allison
- Date: c.1880
- Condition: Age related toning - minimal paper loss at edges
- Inches: 8 3/8 x 12 5/8 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 21.27 x 32.06 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308514
Expertly rendered chromolithograph portrait of Ulysses S. Grant created following Grant’s tenure as president, the work likely dates to the period of his contemplated—though ultimately unsuccessful—campaign for a third presidential term in 1880.
Background on Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877, and is renowned for leading the Union Army to victory during the American Civil War. As president, he worked to stabilize the post-war economy, championed civil rights for African Americans, and played a key role in passing the Fifteenth Amendment, which protected Black men’s right to vote. Today, historians recognize Grant’s important contributions to civil rights and his dedication to national unity, despite the challenges and controversies of his administration.
Background on Creator
Kurz & Allison was a prominent American publishing company best known for its chromolithographs depicting historic events, especially battles. The firm was founded in 1880 in Chicago by Louis Kurz, an Austrian-born lithographer who had emigrated to the U.S. in 1848, and Alexander Allison, who likely provided financial backing. Their headquarters were located at 267-269 Wabash Avenue in Chicago.
The company built its reputation in the mid-1880s with large, colorful prints depicting scenes from the American Civil War. These works, designed mainly by Kurz himself (a Union veteran), capitalized on the public’s nostalgia and patriotic sentiment, appealing particularly to Civil War veterans and their families. In total, Kurz & Allison produced a set of about 36 Civil War battle scenes, but they were also known for commemorating other historical events, including scenes from the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and the Russo-Japanese War.