The New St Patricks Cathedral Lithograph By Currier And Ives Appraisal

The New St. Patrick's Cathedral Lithograph by Currier & Ives

This item is a 19th-century hand-colored lithograph titled 'The New St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, New York.' Published by the renowned firm Currier & Ives, this architectural print depicts the iconic Neo-Gothic cathedral designed by James Renwick Jr. The artwork features a detailed rendering of the cathedral's facade with its soaring twin spires against a dramatic, clouded sky. In the foreground, numerous figures and horse-drawn carriages illustrate the bustling urban life of New York City during the late 1800s. The print includes informative text at the bottom, noting facts such as the cornerstone laying date (August 15th, 1858) and various dimensions of the building, including the height of the spires (334 feet). Physically, the print is housed in a decorative, gilded wooden frame with a beaded inner border. The paper shows signs of age-appropriate toning and minor foxing, particularly visible in the sky and margin areas. There appears to be a slight crease or surface mark in the upper-center sky region. The color palette is composed of muted earth tones, blues, and grays, characteristic of hand-colored lithography from this era. This piece represents a significant historical document of New York's architectural history and is a classic example of American popular printmaking from the mid-to-late 19th century.