Details
Creator Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher.
Contributor S. Hart & Son, publisher.
Title Life in Philadelphia. "Dat is bery fine, Mr. Mortimer..." [graphic] / Clay, fecit.
Publisher Philadelphia: Published by S. Hart & Son, No. 65 South Third St
Publisher PA. Philadelphia. 1829
Date 1829
Physical Description 1 print: hand-colored etching; sheet 20 x 17 cm (7.5 x 6.5 in.)
Description Racist caricature of an African American couple singing and playing guitar in a parlor. In the right, "Mr Mortimer," stands with his right hand over his heart and with his other holding a sheet of music. He wears mutton chops and is attired in a brown coat with tails, a white bow tie, black pants, black stockings, black slipper shoes, and white gloves. His eyes look up and his mouth is open. He sings a love song while the woman seated in the left plays a guitar decorated with blue ribbons. Her head is turned toward the man and she sits on a bench with a blue cushion. She wears a large white bonnet adorned with red and blue bows and with ribbons tied into a bow under her chin. She is also attired in a maroon dress with long puff sleeves, black trim, and a laced bodice, black ankle-tied slipper shoes, as well as rings on her fingers. She comments that he sings "con a moor as de Italians say!!" The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring. Setting also includes a carpet with a decorative pattern.
Notes Title from item.
Date supplied by article about print in Daily Chronicle, December 10, 1829, p. 2.
Contains eight lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: Dat is bery fine, Mr. Mortimer, _ you sing quite con a moor, as de Italians say!! “Take away, take away dos rosy lips, “Rich, rich in balmy treasure!_”Turn away, turn away dose eyes o blub, “Less I die wid pleasure!!!”
Inscribed: Plate 12.
Inscribed: Copy right secured.
S. Hart & Son was a partnership between Sarah and Abraham Hart, Jewish owners of a Philadelphia stationery store who assumed the publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830.
Described in Daily Chronicle, December 10, 1829, p. 2.
RVCDC
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Subject African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons.
African Americans -- Songs and music.
Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Courtship.
Parlors -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
African American women -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Couples -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Genre Caricatures -- 1820-1830.
Etchings -- Hand-colored -- 1820-1830.
Printer S. Hart & Son, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9694]
Accession number P.9694