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Life in Philadelphia. The lub letter. [graphic] / Designd & drawn by W. Summers; Hunt sculpt.
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Life in Philadelphia Collection
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Details
Creator
Summers, William, artist.
Contributor
Hunt, Charles, engraver.
Tregear, G.S., publisher.
Title
Life in Philadelphia. The lub letter. [graphic] / Designd & drawn by W. Summers; Hunt sculpt.
Publisher
London: Published by G.S. Tregear, Cheapside
Publisher
ENG. London. 1833
Date
[ca. 1833]
Physical Description
1 print: hand-colored aquatint; sheet 33 x 25 cm (12.75 x 10 in.)
Description
Racist caricature depicting an African American woman reading a love letter. Depicts "Angelica” seated on a couch across from an end table on which a stationery box, ribbon, and a jar of ink rest as she reads her "billet-doux" addressed to “Miss Lillywhite, Snow Blackfriars." The couch has a wood frame and blue cushions. “Angelica” is attired in a pink cap-sleeved dress with lace details at the bust-line, blue, ankle-laced, slip-on shoes, and jewelry, including a heart-shaped pendant choker necklace, gold drop earrings, and rings. She wears her hair in a top knot and with a hair adornment. In the letter, “Augustus Octavio Whiteman” proclaims he cannot think of anything but her "classic features" and he would be "de Blackest ob villains" if he could see such "lubliness without feeling its influence." Figure of “Angelica” is portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and her skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring.
Notes
Title from item.
Date inferred from content and name of publisher.
Contains several lines of dialogue in the vernacular in the image: Ah! A billet-doux from my Charming Augustus/ My Fairest Angelica/Dy Slender form and Classic Features hab made sich an impression on my poor heart dat I cannot tink ob anything else. Indeed I must be de Blackest of Villains if I could see sich lubliness widout feeling its Influence as de Song says_”Eye ob fire lips ob Dew” “Cheeks dat shame the roses hue”/Tremain your Adorable Lubber Augustus Octavio Whiteman.
Inscribed: No. 4.
Charles Hunt was a respected 19th century London engraver and etcher known mostly for his prints of sporting subjects.
RVCDC
Description revised 2022.
Access points revised 2022.
Subject
African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African Americans -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Courtship.
Love letters.
Middle class -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Racism in popular culture.
Genre
Caricatures -- 1830-1840.
Aquatints -- Hand-colored -- 1830-1840.
Printer
Tregear, G.S., publisher.
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.4]
Accession number
P.9710.4
In Collections
Life in Philadelphia Collection
Race and Visual Culture Digital Collection, 1801-1865
African American History Prints and Watercolors and Drawings
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