07/06/2026
Brief Description of the Lithograph (c. 1854)
An 1850s holiday lithograph attributed to Elias Corbin, portraying Saint Nicholas guiding his sleigh across a moonlit winter sky above a cluster of snow‑covered rooftops. The sleigh is drawn by only five reindeer, which makes this a unique rendering, but it still retains the disciplined motion typical of mid‑century Christmas engravings. Corbin captures the moment of nocturnal flight: Santa leaning forward with reins in hand, the reindeer galloping through drifting clouds, and the village below illuminated by chimney smoke and winter moonlight. Fine cross‑hatching and sepia toning evoke the nostalgic character of period lithographic prints.
