Reconstruction
date: label: Date made
content: 1867
name: label: copyright holder; publisher
content: Bateman, Horatio
label: lithographer
content: Giles, John Lawrence
label: printer
content: Ratellier, Francis
notes: label: Description
content: This hand-colored allegorical print displays hopes for reconciliation through the federal program of Reconstruction. The nation and government are symbolized by an enormous canopy-like structure, upon which is emblazoned with a map of the United States. An eagle holding a crest and American flag sits atop the map. A frieze that encircles the structure’s dome displays depictions of the Senate, House of Representatives, Supreme Court, and Cabinet. Pillars representing each of the state governments support the dome. However, the pillars and bases symbolizing the Confederate states are in the process of being replaced, providing for the viewer a pictorial representation of the process of Reconstruction. Under the shelter of the canopy, the leaders of the Union and the Confederacy come to terms: Ulysses S. Grant shakes hands with Robert E. Lee and Horace Greeley embraces Jefferson Davis. At the bottom of the illustration, a black and white baby sleep under an eagle holding a banner reading, “All men are born free and equal.” In the lower left, intermixed gathering of black and white voters gather near two plaques labeled “Universal Suffrage.” In the lower right, white officials meet with Native American chiefs in a tent to discuss terms of “Indian Reconstruction.” Nearby, black and white children play together in the yard of a school marked as “Universal Education.” Above the landscape of the print, the faces of various American statesmen and historical figures look down from a cloud upon Reconstruction. Near the center of this array of profiles, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster feature prominently. In the center, a robed figure of Jesus wearing a crown of peace is accompanied by the words, “Do to others as you would have others do to you.” In the upper right corners float the female personifications of Liberty and Justice. Below the faces, two disembodied hands are clasped, followed by the words, “Union & Liberty Forever.” Although idealistic, many of the elements depicted in this print would not become realities during Reconstruction: universal suffrage and education for all races would not come into practice until the 20th century, westward expansion would result in continuing bloodshed and further mar U.S. - Native Americans relations, and the country would continue to face deep regional sectionalism throughout the 19th century.
label: Description
content: The print was illustrated by John L. Giles, a New York artist and lithographer active between 1876 and 1882. It was printed by Francis Ratellier, a New York lithographer active from 1859 to 1869. The print was published by Horatio Bateman of New York. Three years after the creation of this print, Bateman published Reconstruction Illustrated and Explained: Biographies of 250 Distinguished National Men, which identified all of the people depicted in the work.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place printed
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Carriages
label: Subject
content: Education
label: Subject
content: Chronology: 1860-1869
label: Subject
content: Patriotism and Patriotic Symbols
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, legislative branch
label: Subject
content: Architecture, Educational Buildings
label: Subject
content: Reform Movements
label: Subject
content: Indians
label: Subject
content: Blacks
label: Subject
content: Architecture, Domestic Buildings
label: Subject
content: Architecture, Industrial Buildings
label: referenced
content: Civil War
label: related event
content: Reconstruction
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: American Civil War Prints
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content: Art
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.2554
label: catalog number
content: 60.2554
label: accession number
content: 228146
label: accession number
content: 228146
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ink (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: image: 8 in x 10 in; 20.32 cm x 25.4 cm