The Horse That Died on the Man's Hands: Moral -- Don't Hold Your Trotter Too High
In this comical harness racing scene, an open-mouthed, wild-eyed man --the harness cart driver wearing a red/yellow striped cap with a pointed visor and blue pants--holds with his enormous hands/fingers an upside-down, expiring brown horse. The horse's legs are up in the air, while its head (at right) collapses towards the ground --its nostrils exhaling a puff of air. At left, there is a two-wheeled cart (sulky) draped with reins and bridle; nearby-- on the ground--a sponge rests on the rim of a green bucket. In the right background, a sulky with its seated driver and harnessed horse stand ready for the race. At the far right background, in a wooden judge's tower, a man (wearing a blue jacket) looks down upon the scene with upraised arms.
Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888), who had established his successful New York-based lithography firm in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of nineteenth century American life. In 1857, Currier made James Merritt Ives (1824–1895) a business partner; the Currier & Ives firm operated until 1907. Many eagerly acquired Currier & Ives lithographs, such as those featuring spectacular American landscapes, rural and city views, images of boats and trains, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life, comic pictures, and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments.
Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888), who had established his successful New York-based lithography firm in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of nineteenth century American life. In 1857, Currier made James Merritt Ives (1824–1895) a business partner; the Currier & Ives firm operated until 1907. Many eagerly acquired Currier & Ives lithographs, such as those featuring spectacular American landscapes, rural and city views, images of boats and trains, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life, comic pictures, and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Horse That Died on the Man's Hands: Moral -- Don't Hold Your Trotter Too High
- Publisher: Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
- Date: 1878
- Medium: Hand-colored lithograph
- Dimensions: Image: 9 in. × 13 1/8 in. (22.9 × 33.3 cm)
Image and text: 9 15/16 × 13 1/8 in. (25.2 × 33.3 cm)
Sheet: 13 1/2 × 17 3/4 in. (34.3 × 45.1 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of A. S. Colgate, 1952
- Object Number: 52.632.260
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
1884
Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
1859
Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
1857–71
Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
1857–71
Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
1868–78
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.