"Rounding a Bend" on the Mississippi – The Parting Salute

Art Historical Context

Created in 1866 by Frances Flora Bond Palmer for the renowned firm Currier & Ives, “Rounding a Bend” on the Mississippi – The Parting Salute captures a lively moment on America’s great waterway. Two steamboats exchange a ceremonial salute as they pass each other, their smokestacks billowing and passengers waving from the decks. Produced as a hand-colored lithograph, the print combines the efficiency of mechanical reproduction with the warmth of individual brushwork, allowing vivid reds, blues, and golds to bring the river scene to life. At the close of the Civil War, the Mississippi remained a vital artery for commerce, travel, and national reunion. Currier & Ives specialized in affordable images that celebrated American progress and everyday spectacle, and Palmer’s careful rendering of light on water and the bustling activity aboard the vessels helped viewers feel connected to the nation’s expanding frontier. The large format—roughly eighteen by twenty-eight inches—made the print suitable for framing in homes and offices, turning a dramatic river encounter into an accessible piece of shared cultural memory.