An Heir to the Throne, Or the Next Republican Candidate

Art Historical Context

In 1860, as the United States teetered on the brink of civil war, this lively lithograph titled *An Heir to the Throne, Or the Next Candidate* captured the fervor of the presidential election. Published by the renowned firm Currier & Ives, with lithography by Louis Maurer, satirically features Abraham Lincoln alongside showman P.T. Barnum and newspaper editor Horace Greeley. about 9½ by 11¼ inches, this hand-colored print was a quintessential product of the era's booming print culture, making political commentary accessible to everyday Americans. The artwork pokes fun at Lincoln's unexpected rise as the Republican nominee, humorously framing him as a "heir" in a circus-like spectacle—echoing Barnum's flair for the dramatic. Greeley, a rival for the nomination, adds to the jab at party politics. Satirical prints like this one shaped public opinion, blending sharp wit with caricature to humanize (or mock) candidates during a tense campaign that pitted North against South over slavery. Currier & Ives excelled in lithography, a technique allowing vibrant, inexpensive reproductions that hung in homes nationwide. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece exemplifies how 19th-century American art democratized satire, offering a window into the cultural buzz of Lincoln's path to the presidency.

About the Artist

Phineas Taylor Barnum|Louis Maurer|Currier & Ives|Abraham Lincoln|Horace Greeley (American|American, born Germany|American|American|American) · 1810 |1832 |1857 |1809 |1811 –1891 |1932 |1907 |1865 |1872

American, Bethel, Connecticut 1810–1891 Bridgeport, Connecticut|American (born Germany), Biebrich 1832–1932 New York|American, active New York, 1857–1907|American, Hardin County, Kentucky 1809–1865 Washington, D.C.|American, 1811–1872