Philip Henry Sheridan

Art Historical Context

This lithographic portrait of Philip Henry Sheridan, produced around 1865 by the renowned Currier & Ives Lith Company, captures the Union Army general at the height of the Civil War. Sheridan, depicted with his signature beard, mustache, and brass-adorned military uniform, embodies the era's heroic ideal of leadership. As a brigadier general, colonel, and major general, he rose rapidly through the ranks, symbolizing Union valor during pivotal campaigns. Currier & Ives, active from 1857 to 1907, specialized in affordable hand-colored lithographs that brought art to the masses. Their prints, often depicting current events and celebrities, used the lithography technique—drawing with greasy crayon on stone for precise, reproducible images—to mass-produce over 7,000 works. This medium made Sheridan's image accessible to households nationwide, fostering national pride amid wartime fervor. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's National Portrait Gallery collection, this print highlights how visual culture shaped American identity, immortalizing military figures like Sheridan and preserving Civil War history for future generations.