My Life I Dedicate to Thee (Valentine) c. 1840

This delicate hand-colored Valentine card, titled "My Life I Dedicate to Thee (Valentine)," is a fine example of Victorian romanticism. Created by George Meek in approximately 1840, the card features a central white flower flanked by floral arrangements and a banner declaring a pledge of devotion, surrounded by an intricate lace-like border. The delicate floral imagery and romantic sentiment are characteristic of the Victorian era, making this card a valuable artifact of 19th-century American artistic culture. The card is currently located in the Art Institute of Chicago.