American Steamboats on the Hudson, Passing the Highlands

The artist team of Charles R. Parsons and Lyman Atwater were noted for their maritime scenes and city views; some, like this one, were made into picturesque lithographs published by Currier & Ives. After the 1840s, many travellers enjoyed luxury steamship cruises along the scenic Hudson River as they headed from New York City or Albany for holidays in Saratoga Springs or Lake George and back. This print depicts two "floating palaces," the "Drew" and the "St. John" (named after Daniel Drew and Alanson J. St. John, founders of the People's Line Steamers), which were launched in the 1860s. Elegantly designed, these boats were decorated with grand, inlaid mahogany staircases, huge mirrors and paintings, in addition to offering passengers magnificent restaurants and arcades -- a splendor that characterized America's Gilded Age. This print helped to broadcast the skills of American shipbuilders who competed against the British in the competative arenas of world trade and travel.

Nathaniel Currier, whose New York-based lithography establishment 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. 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 partner; the business was subsequently renamed Currier & Ives. Over the decades, people eagerly acquired 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.