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Trying to find the artist & history on this lithograph.
Note the print above has no signature but the bottom says: "Copyright 1900 L.M. Johnson Chicago" (belonged to my Grandparents)
LESLIE ~ Please email me ... your addy is no longer working. Thanks!
Nov 2008 ~ I am frequently updating, changing and/or adding info to all four sites, so please excuse the 'messes' that you will find. When editing I am focused on information and don't think about spelling, typos, sentence structure or making the page 'pretty'.
UPDATE:
~This image (with more background) is found on obsolete bank currency. (images on following pages) ABNCo credited the work to Alfred de Dreux's painting titled "Horses Frightened By A Storm". Unfortunately I can find no proof that deDreux is the artist. In 2005 I borrowed two books from the Library of Congress and poured over the pictures. I have emailed Marie-Christine Renauld (Beaupére) (authored two books on his work) numerous times but have received no reply. I believe it is a good possibility he is the artist but I can find no proof. Alfred de Dreux (1810-1860) was the original artist for "La Lutte" ("The Fight" translated to English) for the print also known as "Wild Horses" and "Wild Horses at Play". DeDreux specialized in painting horses and dogs. His first exhibit in 1830 was a huge success. He often painted Napoleon III and his sons. It is said that de Dreux was killed in a duel with Comte Fleury (the Emperor's aide de Camp) in 1860.
~Alfred Jones (1819-1900) is attributed to the engraving of the horses vignette on the currency. He was noted as one of the best engravers in the United States. For many years he was connected with the American bank-note company (ABNCo). Jones died in New York in 1900 after being hit by a hansom cab. Comments were made that in the end Jones, who wasn't noted for particularily liking horses, was killed by a frightened horse.
~One of the names of this print is "2 Spirited Horses" ("Spirited Horses #2", "Spirited Horses No.2", "Spirited No. 2." & "Spirited Horses" have also been used)
~The name "The Storm" is also used for this image. (All the prints I have seen by this name have been colored versions.)
~The name "The Alarm" has also been used.
~many prints have the name LeRoy on the bottom right-hand side (a couple ebay sellers have spelled it LeRoi..... typo? Or maybe they couldn't make out the last letter?)
~some prints are by Jos. Hoover & Sons Co. of Philadelphia. Many prints are dated 1900. Per the internet there are also the following years: 1897, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1908,
~ Hoover & Sons often has different initials used:
Jos Hoover & Sons
JBS Hoover
JDS Hoover
MS Hoover & Sons
J Hoover
JAS
~There is a webpage for Hoover & Sons but those of us who have looked found no info on 'our' print. http://www.philaprintshop.com/hoover.html Per the Feb 4, 1899 Los Angeles Times: A building occupied by J. Hoover & Son, lithographers & publishers had a fire (Feb 1899) with an approx. loss of $20,000.
~ Currier & Ives has a version entitled "Horses in a Thunderstorm" (C2949, G3190) (horses face right)
Information about Currier & Ives http://www.mcny.org/Exhibitions/currierives/currier.htm (no info on 'our' print & the site is currently under construction)
*Found online: Someone found a Currier & Ives print entitled "Horses in a Thunderstorm" listed in: Currier & Ives Prints, an illustrated check list. Frederic A. Conningham, pub by Crown 1970. It lists the artist as F.P. (Palmer). No further researching found a repro of the print but lots of information on Frances (Fanny) Flora Bond Palmer, 1812-76. One catalog stated that "....Frances (aka Fanny) Palmer became one of the principal staff artists at the ... lithographic publishing house of Currier & Ives." Many C&I prints were not signed due to a 'team' working on them, but it appears that they are crediting Fanny Palmer as the artist of "Horses in a Thunderstorm"
~Another rendition of 'our' print is called "Black and White Beauties". One person online stated his "Black and White Beauties" print was by LeRoy.
~Another print is said to be titled "Frightened Horses" by LeRoy Published by M.T. Sheahan, Boston, Mass
~Small 8-1/4x6 copies of 'our' print entitled "The Approaching Storm-LeRoy" No. 810 were put on 10x13 matting boards and given away free with every 50¢ bottle of Mull's Grape Tonic. (Photo & more info on following pages)
~I.S. Berlin; printer, has one named "Thunder & Lightening" (horses headed left)
~Another print is signed by A. Nielsen (photo of this print and more info on the following pages)
~One print says: Johnson - Chicago, Copyrighted 1900, others say 1900 by L.M. Johonson - Chicago
~One gal has a copy of "Spirited Horses 2" and in the bottom corner it says Wilson Chemical Co. Tyrone PA (horses face right on this print)
Visit http://www.tyronehistory.org/faq_wc_prints.html to learn about the color prints that were published & distributed by the Wilson Chemical Co. Update (6/06): Check out the pics of "The Storm" and "Spirited Horses" on
http://www.tyronehistory.org/faq_index_WCCo_prints.html Emailed the Tyrone Historical Society to see if they could put me in touch with anyone who knows of/about these prints but I haven't heard back. Update: (10/06) The VP/Newsletter/Web Editor for the Society emailed. He said: " I must tell you that when the original artwork and related records were destroyed by fire in the WCCo factory, much info was lost. In addition, although a few employees are still living, they don't know much, if anything, about the lithographs." In a later email he confirmed the thoughts on Cloverine Salve giving away free prints: "Yes, when a customer bought a tin of salve, he/she received a print. Over the years, different versions of "Spirited Horses" (aka "The Storm") were included in various batches of prints."
~ A gal emailed me and said she has a 3'x5' charcoal drawing of 'our print' that was done by Addie McGrath in 1893
~Another has Paulson Chemical Co, Tyrone PA on it
~A gal wrote and said her print had "Spirited No.2" on it.
~One version listed on eBay said: "No, 101. Copyright 1902 by O. & S.S" No artist signature
~I purchased a postcard on eBay with 'our horses': The postcard is very well made and heavy.
Front of card:
Bottom right:
FRIGHTENED HORSES
Under the white horses rear leg:
PAINTED BY LE ROY
Back of card:
The top:
SHEHAN'S FAMOUS PICTURE
POSTCARD
Along the left side it says:
Published by M.T. Sheahan, Boston
It has a cancelled 1¢ stamp.
Postmark says:
CRASSFLAT
APR 4
8 AM
1908
PA.
I researched "Sheahan's Famous Picture".I found a lot of different postcards with this title but no info on 'our horses'.
10/06 Purchased a second postcard of "Frightened Horses". The image appears to be identical to the first postcard. Information on the back of this unmailed postcard: Famous Picture Series, Gilt Edge Postcard Published by M.T. Sheahan, 297 Congress St. Boston. There is the number 300 on the left edge of the card.
Original Speculation I'd heard about the painting:
-possible artists: Rosa Bonheur, LeRoy, Paul Alexandre Alfred LeRoy, Casilear (extensively researched Rosa Bonheur and found no connection to this print, also searched Paul A.A. LeRoy and Casilear but could find nothing)
-possibly 1 of 4 pictures titled the Pharaohs Horses (learned this print was often displayed with some of the Pharaohs Horses prints and people mistakenly believed John Frederick Herring also did #2 Spirited Horses")
-possible the pictures were "won" by top sellers of cloverine salve (called Cloverine Salve years ago and they could find no record of this but since it was years ago that this was supposed to have happened .....)
- possible the pictures were given out with 12 pack tins of Cloverine
-possibly was sent to individuals for sending in box labels
-possibly a promotion for Pearsoap (Bryan F. LeBeau, author of Currier & Ives: America Imagined states this "was true toward the end of the company's existence. And it was even more so after the company closed and advertising became even more prevalent.")
Short history of Pears soap:
http://www.riseintlgroup.com/history-pears-soap.html
-possibly 1 of 3 prints titled "Summer Spirits"
-possibly 4 prints in the series
-Some possible names for other prints in the series: Wild Horses, Highland Solitude, Wild Horses at Play
-two different people told me the last picture in the series was supposed to be of two horses lying dead in a field.
~Some people have said the print they have has a number on the back. For example one said #102 Stanley, one has #801 on the back
~A painting called "Dinner for Threshers" by Grant Wood has a picture in the background that looks like "2 Spirited Horses". A magazine called Triptych (printed by the museum Society for the M.H. deYoung museum in San Francisco) has "Dinner for Threshers" on the cover of the magazine (April-May 1986 issue).
~Things to take note of when comparing differences in the prints:
*contour of the black horse above the front left leg
*the mane on the white horse
*the shading/highlighting differences in the horses
*horses feet ... touching the ground or not?
*contour and length of the horses tails (curved up? curved down?)
*detail in the horses faces, especially note the white horses eyes
*sky - location, prominence, details and shape of clouds
* shape & location of lightening, amount of lightening & how realistic looking is it?
*grass (thickness, height, shape)
*angle of the horses heads
*horses eyes ..which direction are they facing
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~Sightings of "our" print:
*The movie "The Christmas Story", (can be seen during the scene where the (leg) lamp breaks)
*The movie "Heavenly Creatures" (hangs on the wall in the parlor
*The movie "The Outsiders" (on the wall of Pony Boy's house towards the end of the movie)
*The movie "Hoosiers" (The coach (Gene Hackman) visits the sick principal of the school. The print is above his bed.)
*The tv show "The Division" (hangs on the wall in a bar where the women in the show sometimes go)
*The book: "Laura Ingalls Wilder Country- The people and places in Laura Ingalls Wilder's life and books by William Anderson. 1998 On page 88 it shows a painting Laura had done that looks like 'our' print. She painted "The Storm" on the bottom of the picture. Below the picture the book states, "Laura and Almanzo both shared a love for fine horses. Laura copied this famous Currier & Ives print entitled The Storm." At the end of the book it credits the LIWHA for the paintings on the page. (Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association) Anderson told me the name "The Alarm" was also used for this image. Unfortunately he doesn't remember off the top-of-his-head why he attributed her picture to Currier & Ives.
Information on lithography:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/tips/lithography/
http://www.hewit.com/sd11-aloy.htm
~I do NOT know the value of the prints. I have seen them sell on eBay for less than $100 (various sizes, styles & quality) but have also heard of the prints selling for several hundred dollars in antique shops. Most recently (2006-2008) I have heard of the lithographs selling in antique shops for around $100. In 2006 I had lithos of "Spirited Horses" and "Wild Horses" appraised at a free event but unfortunately the antique dealer had never seen the prints before so he knew absolutely nothing about them. He guessed that the prints were worth $50-$95 ($45 more for "Spirited Horses" due to the ornate frame). I frequently watch the prints sell on eBay (2005 -2008) and although I haven't done any actual figures I have found many lithographs sell anywhere from $100 to $160. Of course, this varies depending on size, quality and frame. I have also noticed that at times (on ebay) the prints sell for lower prices around the holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas).
A huge Thank you to Teagon and Jack. Between the three of us we found a lot of new leads & information in 2005 & 2006. Another huge thank you to Lauren and Teagon for sending pictures in a way that I was able to add them to this site. Thanks to Tamara for showing us 'our picture' was on obsolete currency. And a huge thanks to Stan for sharing his information and images of currency. And a big thank you to those on the yahoo group who have shared photos and information. It has taken ALL of us to have learned so much!
This site was set up to be informational and to help us learn about 'our print'. I cannot guarantee the data included in the site. I am NOT an expert on these prints. Please do not use the information on these pages without permission or giving a link to this page. I do not want anyone to take our 'findings' and use them for fact.... these pages are a learning tool ... not proven fact. But please feel free to share a link of our page with anyone. Thank you!!
I have been searching for info on this image for over 15 years. Over the years I have seen hundreds of images and talked to hundreds of people. Please join the list below if you would like to hear about new things we learn or if you would like to share your story or what you know about 'our print'. You may email me directly if you have informaton. If you write me with questions please expect a long wait for me to be able to reply. Please check out the information on the links/pages below before emailing with questions. I apologize for having to say this but I get a lot of emails and the majority of the questions I get asked are about things already on the webpages. Also, please do not write and ask what the value of your print is (I have stated above the price ranges I have seen) because I do not know and could not give you a qualified answer. If you have a litho of just horses heads you may want to try googling "Pharaohs Horses" by John Frederick Herring. Thank you! AnneRed@webtv.net (I'm from Michigan)
~~Continue scrolling down for more information~~