ARTIST: Fitz Henry Lane
PUBLISHER: Published by A. Conant, 1850.
MEDIUM: Lithograph, printed in color and finished by hand.
DATE: 1850.
EDITION SIZE: Image size 18 9/16 x 27 13/16" (47.1 x 70.6 cm).
DESCRIPTION: From a sketch from nature by F Henry Lane. Lith. & printed in colors by Sarony & Major, New York. <br><br> This view of Baltimore is not only rare and quite handsome; it also likely shows free African Americans standing among whites. Maryland was a slave state but Baltimore had a large population of free African Americans. By 1850, the free black population in Baltimore was over 25,000 as opposed to under 3,000 in slavery. It was a very progressive city for the period. It is unusual see this in a print.<br><br> Fitz Henry Lane, 1804-1865. For many years collectors and art historians listed his middle name as Hugh. Recently researchers found a letter that he sent to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requesting a name change, not to Fitz Hugh Lane but to Fitz Henry Lane. His actual birth name was Nathaniel Rogers Lane. He was born in and spent most of his life in Gloucester, Massachusetts. While he is best remembered for being one of the earliest great luminous marine painters, he was also a gifted printmaker. In 1832 he apprenticed himself to the Boston lithographer, William S. Pendleton where he learned the technique of lithography. Pendleton was one of the earliest commercial lithographers in America. During his life he is known to have produced over forty different prints from large folio town views to music sheet covers. Today, his prints are in many museums and are coveted by collectors and, generally speaking, are rather rare.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition and color, save for one short tear in the lower left margin, just reaching the lower corner of the image. Some additions of modern handcolor. Professionally conserved.
REFERENCE: Wilmerding #174; Reps #1285; Not in Deak.
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