Print: Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb ) next to his miniature carriage
Unknown creator, American (created by)
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
1845 – 1850 (Date manufactured/created)
9 in H
X
13.75 in W
Hand-colored print of Charles S. Stratton, known by his stage name as "General Tom Thumb," standing next to his miniature carriage, with two ponies, and two attendants. A tall gentleman in white pantaloons with a light blue-green waistcoat and dark tailcoat jacket stands next to the group, looking down at the "Little General."
The print is untitled, and the identity of the adult gentleman is uncertain; he does not resemble P. T. Barnum, however due to the fact the depiction of Stratton is not a good likeness, it may very well meant to be P.T. It is entirely plausible that the artist had seen neither one of them, and so features were imagined.
Stratton is dressed in a miniature black suit and white waistcoat, and holds his tiny top hat. He is shown to be about half the height or less of the coach, which is painted blue with orange trim on the wheels. A boy in the role of driver sits atop the seat holding the reins of two ponies, one black and the other dappled grey on white. The ponies appear more like thoroughbred horses in miniature than real ponies with their typically stocky build. A second boy stands at the back of the coach. Both of the young coachmen are wearing child-sized versions of formal livery uniforms, a "fossilized" style that mimicked men's fashions of the late 1700s. The full complement of carriage, horses, and attendants is called "equipage" (pronounced as a French word, eh-kwi-pahzh). Images of Gen. Tom Thumb with his equipage formed a major part of Barnum's promotional advertising and marketing of the young performer, who was only five years old when he began working with Barnum.
Though undated, this print probably dates to 1845 or the latter half of the 1840s, during or soon after Stratton and Barnum's three-year tour of Europe, where both achieved international fame and fortune. The adult gentleman's pantaloons--wide at the thigh and narrow at the ankle with straps under the foot--would have been out of fashion by the 1850s, so presumably the print predates that decade. A very similar black and white print exists titled "Le General Tom Pouce" (French for "General Tom Thumb"), with the signature "F. Grenier," which suggests this image originated in France, though the pirating of images was common and makes it hard to say with any certainty. Yet another version, a color lithograph that uses different colors on the garments and coach, has a German title, and provides the name of the lithographer who copied F. Grenier's print (Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_S._Stratton,_a_dwarf_known_as_General_Tom_Thumb,_sta_Wellcome_V0007361.jpg).
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The print is untitled, and the identity of the adult gentleman is uncertain; he does not resemble P. T. Barnum, however due to the fact the depiction of Stratton is not a good likeness, it may very well meant to be P.T. It is entirely plausible that the artist had seen neither one of them, and so features were imagined.
Stratton is dressed in a miniature black suit and white waistcoat, and holds his tiny top hat. He is shown to be about half the height or less of the coach, which is painted blue with orange trim on the wheels. A boy in the role of driver sits atop the seat holding the reins of two ponies, one black and the other dappled grey on white. The ponies appear more like thoroughbred horses in miniature than real ponies with their typically stocky build. A second boy stands at the back of the coach. Both of the young coachmen are wearing child-sized versions of formal livery uniforms, a "fossilized" style that mimicked men's fashions of the late 1700s. The full complement of carriage, horses, and attendants is called "equipage" (pronounced as a French word, eh-kwi-pahzh). Images of Gen. Tom Thumb with his equipage formed a major part of Barnum's promotional advertising and marketing of the young performer, who was only five years old when he began working with Barnum.
Though undated, this print probably dates to 1845 or the latter half of the 1840s, during or soon after Stratton and Barnum's three-year tour of Europe, where both achieved international fame and fortune. The adult gentleman's pantaloons--wide at the thigh and narrow at the ankle with straps under the foot--would have been out of fashion by the 1850s, so presumably the print predates that decade. A very similar black and white print exists titled "Le General Tom Pouce" (French for "General Tom Thumb"), with the signature "F. Grenier," which suggests this image originated in France, though the pirating of images was common and makes it hard to say with any certainty. Yet another version, a color lithograph that uses different colors on the garments and coach, has a German title, and provides the name of the lithographer who copied F. Grenier's print (Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_S._Stratton,_a_dwarf_known_as_General_Tom_Thumb,_sta_Wellcome_V0007361.jpg).
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
T 2015.059.001