Design for Trade Card [The Sun Life Assurance Society]

Walter Crane British
1880–89
Not on view
Crane was a prolific designer of a range of printed materials including playbills, magazine covers, private view invitations and posters. He also received many commissions from commercial organizations for documents including, as here, a certificate for an insurance company, Sun Life Assurance Society, which was founded in 1810. The dynamic design features a charioteer charging forward led by four galloping horses, silhouetted against a blazing sunburst, in reference to the company's name. Blank areas were left throughout the design to be filled later; the intended lettering is faintly indicated by the artist in graphite.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Design for Trade Card [The Sun Life Assurance Society]
  • Artist: Walter Crane (British, Liverpool 1845–1915 Horsham)
  • Date: 1880–89
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink over graphite
  • Dimensions: sheet: 10 3/8 x 7 1/16 in. (26.4 x 18 cm)
  • Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962
  • Object Number: 62.595.1
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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