Marion's Brigade Crossing the Pedee River, South Carolina, 1778, on their way to attack the British Force under Tarleton
This scene from the American Revolutionary War features the American military officer Francis Marion, also known as the "Swamp Fox" (nicknamed for his success in avoiding capture by British troops led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton in the swamps of the American South), who led the 2nd South Carolina Regiment and eventually pushed British troops out of South Carolina. This vividly colored print shows the river crossing of a crowded raft ferry with General Marion on horseback (just left of center) amid a few others on horseback, while yet others stand by their horses or sit as they hold the reins of their swimming horses (right); three dogs are also aboard. The Black (African American) oarsman (just right of center) is dressed in a red shirt and blue pants. In the right background, another crowded raft is closer to the shore. Towards the upper left, one of the men on horseback raises his right arm to point to the left river bank. The title and caption are imprinted in the bottom margin. The print's title cites the "Pedee River," although today, it is spelled "Pee Dee River." . The print was produced, among others featuring American Revolutionary War subjects, for the Centennial of the founding of the United States.
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.
Also see the related print depicting the same subject (Metropolitan Museum of Art accession no. 57.647.7): "Marion Crossing the Pedee" (1852) by Charles K. Burt after the 1850 painting by William Tyler Ranny (now in the collection of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas)..
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.
Also see the related print depicting the same subject (Metropolitan Museum of Art accession no. 57.647.7): "Marion Crossing the Pedee" (1852) by Charles K. Burt after the 1850 painting by William Tyler Ranny (now in the collection of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas)..
Artwork Details
- Title: Marion's Brigade Crossing the Pedee River, South Carolina, 1778, on their way to attack the British Force under Tarleton
- Publisher: Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
- Subject: Francis Marion (American, Berkeley County, South Carolina ca. 1732–1795 Berkeley County, South Carolina)
- Date: ca. 1876
- Medium: Hand-colored lithograph, with gum arabic
- Dimensions: Image: 8 15/16 × 12 3/4 in. (22.7 × 32.4 cm)
Image and text: 10 in. × 12 3/4 in. (25.4 × 32.4 cm)
Sheet: 13 1/2 × 17 3/4 in. (34.3 × 45.1 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of Adele S. Colgate, 1962
- Object Number: 63.550.138
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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