![GRANT, Ulysses S., Lieutenant General. GUTEKUNST, Frederick (1831-1917), photographer. Albumen silver print portrait photograph signed ("U.S. Grant Lt. Gen. U.S.A."), with printed copyright notice beneath image. [taken in Washington, D.C., April 1865]. Philadelphia, probably taken in . Image: 8 3/16 x 6 5/8 in., on original card mount, together 14½ x 11 5/8 in., verso with 5-cent tax stamp and printed label ("from F. Gutekunst, Photographer, 712 Arch Street, Philad'a"). In very fine condition.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2002/NYR/2002_NYR_01139_0134_000(050308).jpg?w=1)
Details
GRANT, Ulysses S., Lieutenant General. GUTEKUNST, Frederick (1831-1917), photographer. Albumen silver print portrait photograph signed ("U.S. Grant Lt. Gen. U.S.A."), with printed copyright notice beneath image. [taken in Washington, D.C., April 1865]. Philadelphia, probably taken in . Image: 8 3/16 x 6 5/8 in., on original card mount, together 14½ x 11 5/8 in., verso with 5-cent tax stamp and printed label ("from F. Gutekunst, Photographer, 712 Arch Street, Philad'a"). In very fine condition.
U.S. GRANT, JUST AFTER APPOMATTOX, WEARING MOURNING RIBBONS IN THE WAKE OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION
A superbly crisp, detailed, large-format image, showing a serious, hollow-eyed General Grant just days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox and the assassination of the commander-in-chief, President Lincoln. Grant is shone from the waist up, in full uniform, three-starred epaulettes on the shoulders of his overcoat, gazing unflinchingly into the lens, his left hand partially inserted into the lapel of his waitscoat (in a pose very popular in 19th century military circles, emulating the stance of Napoleon Bonaparte in David's famous portrait, "Napoleon in his Study," painted in 1812). Visible hanging from Grant's left arm is the long black ribbon of black crepe worn after Lincoln's assassination (see another version of the same portrait in Kunhardt and Kunhardt, Twenty Days, p.121) Interestingly, although the portrait is known to have been taken in mid- to late April 1865, the photographer has misleadingly affixed the image to an old mat, carrying an out-of-date 1863 copyright notice.
RARE. Only one other large-format example of this portrait signed by Grant has been sold in the last quarter century (from the Joseph Laico Collection, Christie's East, 12 May 1999, lot 172, $7,000).
U.S. GRANT, JUST AFTER APPOMATTOX, WEARING MOURNING RIBBONS IN THE WAKE OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION
A superbly crisp, detailed, large-format image, showing a serious, hollow-eyed General Grant just days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox and the assassination of the commander-in-chief, President Lincoln. Grant is shone from the waist up, in full uniform, three-starred epaulettes on the shoulders of his overcoat, gazing unflinchingly into the lens, his left hand partially inserted into the lapel of his waitscoat (in a pose very popular in 19th century military circles, emulating the stance of Napoleon Bonaparte in David's famous portrait, "Napoleon in his Study," painted in 1812). Visible hanging from Grant's left arm is the long black ribbon of black crepe worn after Lincoln's assassination (see another version of the same portrait in Kunhardt and Kunhardt, Twenty Days, p.121) Interestingly, although the portrait is known to have been taken in mid- to late April 1865, the photographer has misleadingly affixed the image to an old mat, carrying an out-of-date 1863 copyright notice.
RARE. Only one other large-format example of this portrait signed by Grant has been sold in the last quarter century (from the Joseph Laico Collection, Christie's East, 12 May 1999, lot 172, $7,000).