Anthony & Company

Anthony & Company was a prominent photographic firm active between 1860 and 1869, specializing in commercial and documentary views of American scenery and infrastructure. Fifteen of Anthony & Company’s prints are represented in major museum collections, establishing the firm’s significance in mid-nineteenth century image production.

The company’s output was largely disseminated through series documenting travel routes and public interest sites. These included comprehensive visual records of major transportation networks, such as Bridge Over the Ramapo at Greenwood, No. 6264 from the series "The Beauties of the Ramapo, Erie Railway" and views detailing passenger leisure, like On the Juniata. The Five Fair Ladies, No. 519 from the series "The Picturesque on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad".

Anthony & Company also focused heavily on institutional documentation and natural phenomena, evidenced by the detailed civic record Interior View of the Main Hall of Prison, East Side, which is 6 Stories High, and Contains 600 Cells, No. 4318 from the series "Sing Sing Prison Views". Further demonstrating their diverse interests are landscape studies like Niagara In Winter and novelty items such as Lincoln Memorial. Dissected Leaves, No. 4810 from the series "Anthony's Stereoscopic Views".

A selection of these historical Anthony & Company prints is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the original works are now over 150 years old, much of the firm’s documentary photography is within the public domain, making high-quality prints and downloadable artwork widely accessible for study and exhibition.