Treasures from the AA/PG Library - Album of cartes-de-visite

The Smithsonian American Art Museum/ National Portrait Gallery Library (AA/PG) grew out of the Smithsonian’s National Museum, later known as the “National Gallery of Art”. In 1937 the Andrew Mellon gift of art was given to the nation to form the beginning of the collection of what is now know as the National Gallery of Art. As a result, the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art became the National Collection of Fine Arts (NCFA). When plans were underway for the new National Portrait Gallery in 1964, the NCFA library collections were combined with those for the new Gallery. The Library collection was then developed to reflect the missions of the two museums with strong holdings in American art, as well as American history and biography. In 1980, the NCFA was renamed the “National Museum of American Art”; then in 2000 it became the “Smithsonian American Art Museum”.

The AA/PG Library's collection has many special treasures in its collection which we will feature over time.  The first is a book of cartes-de-visite featuring many prominent American artists. The carte-de-visite was a type of photographic calling card that became popular with the development of photography during the mid-19th century.  Collecting cards featuring famous people became popular - similar to collecting baseball cards today.  Collectors could then mount the cards in pages in an album like the one reproduced here. The anonymous person who collected the cards in the AA/PG Library's album must have been interested in American art because the majority of identifiable people are American artists. Future posts will examine some of those represented.

The artists represented on this first page of the album are (clockwise, starting at the top left): Thomas Sully, Samuel Morse, Sully again, and Rembrandt Peale. —Doug Litts

Comments

[Doug Litts]

“It sounds like you may have a print by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, one of which is held in the Library of Congress and can be seen here.

We are not permitted to determine value for art works. However, valuation of prints is determined by many different variables, such as printing run, condition, number, etc. To read about some of these issues, you may want to consult the: Library of Congress historical print evaluation webpage.

[Ginny Ogline]

I have a signed lithograph of George Washington at Christ Church on an Easter Sunday signed 1789. I would like to know if this is of any value and where to research it further. My name is Ginny Ogline. My e-mail address is ginnyogline @yahoo.com Thank you.