Patrick Henry, from the series Great Americans (N76) for Duke brand cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 19th American advertising with this petite chromolithograph, *Patrick Henry*, from the *Great Americans (N76)* series produced by W. Duke, & Co. in 1888. Measuring just 2¾ × 1½ inches, this commercial color lithograph was designed as a collectible insert for Duke brand cigarette packs, transforming everyday tobacco products into portals of patriotism. It honors Patrick Henry, the fiery orator of the American Revolution famed for his "Give me or give me death!" speech, capturing his stern visage amid a pantheon of national heroes. Chromolithography, the era's cutting-edge technique for mass-producing vivid, multi-colored prints, allowed Duke—a pioneering tobacco firm—to flood the market with these ephemera, boosting brand loyalty through nostalgia and hero worship. What began as disposable promotions evolved into cherished collectibles, reflecting the Gilded Age's blend of commerce and cultural reverence. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this tiny card underscores how advertising shaped American identity, turning historical icons into everyday icons. (178 words)

About the Artist

W. Duke, Sons & Co. · 1870–1920

**W. Duke, Sons & Co.: Pioneers of Chromolithographic Trade Card Art** W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco manufacturer, emerged from the entrepreneurial vision of Washington Duke (1820–1905) and his sons in Durham, North Carolina. After the Civil War, Washington abandoned farming in 1874 to join his eldest son, Brodie L. Duke, in the burgeoning tobacco trade, establishing a factory that for...