Van Amburgh and Co.'s Triumphal Car, Passing the Astor House, April 20th 1846

In this print, an ornate, Baroque-style coach drawn by a team of fancily outfitted dark horses of Van Amburgh's Menagerie (eight horses shown here) heads toward the left of the image. It is passing the Neoclassical-style Astor House, a prestigious five-story New York City hotel, located at 149 Broadway Street (between Vesey and Barclay Streets) --a site opposite City Hall. The coach (colored in pinkish gold) is comprised of carved figures of lions, phoenixes, and dolphins supporting a dark gray canopy on their tails, surmounted by an eagle with outstretched wings. A band in uniform rides in the body of the coach, which is driven by a coachman holding a long whip. Spectators pack the entry of Astor House; dense crowds line the main thoroughfare and adjoining street. Many people also view the scene from the windows of Astor House and all the nearby buildings.

Isaac Van Amburgh (1808–1865), an American wild animal trainer, was the first to develop trained wild animal acts (starting around 1828) that crossed over from menagerie shows to performing animals as circus entertainment. A typical show featured tigers, leopards, lambs, and lions, showcasing his skill in training animals, which rarely interacted tamely together in the same space. He often put an arm or his head in a lion's mouth and remained unscathed. He dramatically encouraged the ferocity of the wild cats, and then, dramatically calmed them into gentle behavior. He performed his shows in cages that were transportable so that he could move to various venues easily. In the late 1830s, he took his act to England and Europe. While in London in 1839, Queen Victoria so admired his lion taming performance that she attended several times, and commissioned Edwin Landseer (1802–1873; he was knighted in 1850) to paint a portrait of Van Amburgh and his "cats." [1839; Royal Collection Trust]. When he returned to New York after his extended tour abroad, he had international celebrity status. On April 20,1845, Van Amburgh's performance season was launched with a grand procession down Broadway featuring fifty carriages and 150 horses; the elaborately carved and gilded "imperial" carriage (inspired by one he saw in England) was the highlight of the parade. Soon, other circus companies were also using decorated wagons in parades to announce their performances. Van Amburgh continued to be admired by circus professionals, even after his death, despite lingering criticism of his being cruel to his animals.

This print was sold as a wonderful souvenir -- as a depiction of both a glorious procession promoting an upcoming circus menagerie performance and an important building, New York City's first luxury hotel. Astor House (originally called the Park Hotel when it opened in 1836) was designed by the American architect Isaiah Rogers and built by John Jacob Astor. Boasting three hundred guest rooms, it was notable for hosting many dignitaries over many decades.

Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of 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.