Nathaniel Currier
Battle of Cerro Gordo

Public Domain

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Artist Nathaniel Currier American, 1813–1888

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

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

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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