The Celebrated Trotting Mares Maud S. and Aldine as they appeared on June 15th, 1883 at the Gentlemen's Driving Park, Morrisania, N.Y., driven by their owner William H. Vanderbilt, Esq.
Lithographer Currier & Ives American
Publisher Currier & Ives American
Not on view
In this harness-racing track scene, William H. Vanderbilt, who sports long side whiskers and wears a top hat and black suit, drives an elegant high-wheeled buggy (built by J.B. Brewster & Co., New York) pulled by two beautiful horses running towards the right: Aldine (a dark bay closer to the viewer) and Maud. S (a bay).
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 included his younger brother Charles 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.
