Kurz & Allison Chromolithograph, The Battle Between the Monitor and the Merrimac

$3,850.00

The First Battle of Iron Ships Brilliantly Presented!

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Description

The Battle Between the Monitor and the Merrimac chromolithograph is among the most popular of the prints issued by the Kurz and Allison Company of Chicago. Kurz and Allison, like their competitors Currier and Ives, aimed to create handsome allegorical prints symbolizing important aspects of American culture.

Kurz and Allison produced thirty-six Civil War battle scenes utilizing the chromolithography process to create vividly colored prints. The prints do not aim to illustrate Civil War actions with any documentary accuracy, but rather to symbolize the most important and publicly recognized aspects of a battle. This is the second most-popular such print after The Battle of Gettysburg.

In The Battle Between the Monitor and Merrimac Louis Kurz chose to portray the two ironclads dueling in Hampton Roads while the U.S. frigate Congress burns nearby (The Congress was destroyed on March 8 while the battle between the ironclads occurred on March 9). In the foreground Union soldiers rush to help rescue sailors as they struggle to shore. Union Generals oversee the scene. In an aspect that was mostly unique to Kurz and Allison prints African American characters are represented and portrayed sympathetically. In this print a black civilian helps a Union soldier rescue a wounded sailor while a family of contrabands seem to have arrived by boat after a flight from slavery.

This copy enjoys uncommon vividness. Colors that are typically sensitive to fading (red flags or orange flames), are as bright as the day the print came off the lithographic stones. The print does not show any damage that usually occurs over time. We are happy to claim that this example is in fine condition, and as close to its new state from 1889 as possible. A brilliant example ready for framing and display. Correctly matted and wrapped for preservation. As fresh as we’ve ever seen!

Kurz & Allison. Battle Between the Monitor and Merrimac. Chicago, 1889. Chromolithograph 19” x 25”, matted.

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