Details
Creator Summers, William artist.
Contributor Hunt, Charles engraver.
Hunt, Charles, engraver.
T.C. Lewis & Co., publisher.
Title Life in Philadelphia. Romeo and Juliet. [graphic] / W.S.; C. Hunt, Sc.
Publisher London: Lewis & Co. 79 Leadenhall St
Publisher ENG. London. 1860
Date [ca. 1860]
Physical Description 1 print: hand-colored aquatint; sheet 35 x 29 cm (13.75 x 11.25 in.)
Description Racist caricature depicting an African American man-woman couple in the characters of Romeo and Juliet during the balcony scene from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." In the right, "Romeo" wearing an Elizabethan costume including a plumed white hat, red cape, and white sash, holds his right, gloved hand over his heart and his left, ungloved hand out and holding the edge of his cape. He recites, "How silver sweet sounds Lubbers Tongues by Night, like sorpest Music to attending Ears." In the left, from the balcony, "Juliet" responds with the self-derogatory remark that as her complexion is "de mark of night" it is impossible to see that "a maiden blush bepaint" on her cheek. She is attired in a pink puffed sleeve, décolleté dress, earrings, a necklace, and hair adornment. She holds a glove and fan in her right gloved hand at her side and her left hand rests on the balustrade of the balcony. A rose vine climbs up the balcony and the tops of trees and a balustrade are visible behind “Romeo.” Figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features and their skin tone is depicted in black hand coloring.
Notes Title from item.
Date inferred from content and name of publisher.
Contains two lines of dialogue in the vernacular below image: Romeo: How silber sweet, sounds Lubbers Tongues by Night; like sorptest Music to attending Ears./Juliet: Dou know’st de mask ob night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek.
Signed W.S. for William Summers in lower right corner.
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 Juliet (Fictitious character)
Romeo (Fictitious character)
African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African Americans -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American men -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Balconies -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Courtship.
Racism in popular culture.
Genre Caricatures -- 1860-1870.
Aquatints -- Hand-colored -- 1860-1870.
Illustrator Hunt, Charles, engraver.
Printer T.C. Lewis & Co., publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9713.4]
Accession number P.9713.4