Nathaniel Currier
Battle of Cerro Gordo

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Battle of Cerro Gordo
  • April 18, 1847
Date1847
PlaceNew York, United States
MediumLithograph with hand coloring
DimensionsImage: 8 × 12 1/2 in. (20.3 × 31.8 cm)
Sheet: 10 1/8 × 14 1/8 in. (25.7 × 35.8 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg
Object numberB.69.286
Non exposé

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Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

After capturing the Mexican city of Vera Cruz following a bombardment, amphibious assault, and siege, General Winfield Scott began to advance toward Mexico City, engaging troops led by Antonio López de Santa Anna at Cerro Gordo near Xalapa. Santa Anna’s troops had taken up a strong defensive position on the hill, but United States troops outflanked them and won a victory.

Lithographer Nathaniel Currier learned the printing trade as an apprentice at the Boston firm of William and John Pendleton, the first successful lithography firm in the United States. Currier moved to New York City with John Pendleton in the early 1830s and soon established his own firm there. Currier found success producing images of current events and making them available quickly and inexpensively. James Merritt Ives joined the firm in 1852 and became a partner in 1857.


Provenance[Kennedy Galleries, New York]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, 1958; given to MFAH, 1969.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed: BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO APRIL 18TH 1847 / THE TROOPS ASCENDED THE LONG AND DIFFICULT SLOPE OF CERRO GORDO WITHOUT SHELTER, AND UNDER THE TREMENDOUS FIRE OF ARTILLERY AND MUSKETRY, WITH THE UTMOST STEADINESS, REACHED THE BREASTWORKS, DROVE THE ENEMY FROM THEM, PLANTED THE COLORS OF THE 1ST ARTILLERY, 3D. AND 7TH INFANTRY—THE ENEMY'S FLAG STILL FLYING–AND AFTER SOME MINUTES OF SHARP FIRING, FINISHED THE CONQUEST WITH THE BAYONET. ABOUT 3,000 MEN LAID DOWN THEIR ARMS, WITH THE USUAL PROPORTION OF FIELD AND COMPANY OFFICERS, BESIDES FIVE GENERALS, SEVERAL OF THEM OF GREAT DISTINCTION–PINSON, JARERRO, LA VEGA, NOREIGA, AND OBANDO [Gale 1984, no. 0436]
Printed lower left below the image: LITH. & PUB. BY N. CURRIER
Printed lower right below the image: 152 NASSAU ST. COR OF SPRUCE N.Y.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Storming of the Heights of Cerro Gordo
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Lithograph with hand coloring
B.69.285
Seige of Vera Cruz, March, 1847
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Lithograph with hand coloring
B.69.283
Attack of the Gun Boats upon the City, & Castle of San Juan de Ulloa
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Lithograph with hand coloring
B.69.280
Landing of the American Forces Under Genl. Scott
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Lithograph with hand coloring
B.69.281
Naval Bombardment of Vera Cruz
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Lithograph with hand coloring
B.69.279
Pursuit of the Mexicans by the U.S. Dragoons
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Lithograph with hand coloring
B.69.290
Battle of Buena Vista
Nathaniel Currier
c. 1847–1848
Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
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Genl. Taylor at the Battle of Palo Alto
Nathaniel Currier
1846
Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
B.69.273
Battle of Monterey
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c. 1846–1847
Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
B.69.270
Battle of Resaca de la Palma, May 9th 1846
Nathaniel Currier
1846
Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
B.69.267
Capitulation of Vera Cruz
Nathaniel Currier
1847
Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
B.69.282
U.S. Dragoons
Nathaniel Currier
1846
Hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
B.69.513