Samuel J. Bridge

Art Historical Context

Charles Fenderich’s 1856 print offers a formal portrait of Samuel J. Bridge, a government official whose likeness is preserved through the careful of this mid-nineteenth-century work. Fenderich, who lived from 1805 to 1887, produced many such prints during a period when lithography and other reproductive techniques made images of public figures more widely available. The resulting portrait emphasizes Bridge’s dignified bearing, highlighted by a full beard and mustache that reflect the grooming styles of the era. As a print rather than a unique painting, the work demonstrates how portraiture s...