JOHN SARTAIN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED CHECK 10/12/1869 - HFSID 176902

JOHN SARTAIN
Artist John Sartain signed this check for $100 as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1869.
Check signed "John Sartain" as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Endorsed on verso in black ink and lead pencil in unknown hand. 6¾x2¾. Oct. 12, 1869. Check no. 1120 for $100, payable to "Mrs. Sarah A. Kochesperger/for Petty Cash Account" and drawn on the account of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Sartain (1808-1897) was an artist and engraver who was one of the first to use mezzotint engraving in the United States. Sartain was born in London, Great Britain and learned his craft in Europe before emigrating to the U. S. in 1830. In the U. S., he designed vignettes for banknotes, made plates for framed engravings and book illustrations. Sartain also had at least partial ownership in several magazines, which he often edited and made engravings for. One of these was Union Magazine, which he renamed to Sartain's Union Magazine in 1848; it enjoyed a successful four-year run. Sartain was an important artist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He designed several monuments, including monuments to George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette in Philadelphia's Monument Cemetery, was put in charge of the art department for Philadelphia's Centennial Exhibition in 1876 and held offices in numerous city art organizations and schools. Lightly toned and soiled, otherwise in fine condition.