Details
Creator Summers, William, delineator.
Contributor Hunt, Charles, engraver.
Isaacs, W.H., publisher.
Title Life in Philadelphia. A black tea party. [graphic] / W. Summers, del.; Hunt, sc.
Publisher London: Published by W.H. Isaacs, Charles St. Soho Sqre
Publisher ENG. London. 1833
Date [ca. 1833]
Physical Description 1 print: aquatint; sheet 23 x 27 cm (9 x 10.75 in.)
Description Racist caricature satirizing the African American guests and hosts, "Mr. Ludovico" and "Miss Rosabella," of a tea party. To the far right of the table, "Miss Rosabella," attired in a cap sleeve dress, pours steaming hot tea into a cup which tips over and spills onto a startled black cat on the floor. To her right, "Mr. Ludovico," attired in a waistcoat, passes a plate of sandwiches to "Miss Araminta,” attired in a puff sleeved dress and who protests his taking the trouble. Next to them, a frowning, woman guest, attired in a puff sleeved dress asks “Miss Rosabella” for "anoder cup" of tea after she helps the other guests. An African American man servant (in the right) and the other guests (in the left), a mother holding her baby and resting her feet on an ottoman and her young son seated on a small chair, observe and comment about the spilled tea on the cat and the flirtatious behavior of "Mr. Ludovico." The man servant wears a jacket with epaulets. He holds a cloth. The mother wears a dress with puffed sleeves. The boy wears a smock shirt and pants. He drinks a cup of tea. The scene is set in a parlor decorated with a carpet with an ornate pattern. Figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features. The women figures wear their hair in top knots, except the mother who wears a round, soft brimmed hat adorned with bows.
Notes Title from item.
Date inferred by content and name of publisher.
Contains six bubbles of dialogue in the vernacular within the image: I bery glad I ain’t the cat./I begin to see which way de cat jumps/When you have helped all de company Miss Rosabella, I’ll tank you for anoder cup/No trouble Miss Araminta none but de brave deserve de Fair/You take too mush trouble Mr. Ludovico./Mass cat tink him tea to hot.
Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most well known for his aquatints of sporting subjects.
RVCDC
Description revised 2022.
Access points revised 2022.
Purchase 1967.
Subject African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American boys -- 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.
Cats.
Conversation.
Courtship.
Etiquette.
Middle class -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Racism in popular culture.
Tea parties -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Genre Caricatures -- 1830-1840.
Aquatints -- 1830-1840.
Printer Isaacs, W.H., publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [7647.F]
Accession number 7647.F