| Creator |
Summers, William, artist. |
| Contributor |
Hunt, Charles, engraver. |
|
Isaacs, Harrison, publisher. |
| Title |
Life in Philadelphia. "How you like de Waltz, Mr. Lorenzo..." [graphic] / Chas. Hunt, Sc. |
| Publisher |
London: Published by Harrison Isaacs, Charles St. Soho Sqre |
| Publisher |
ENG. London. 1831 |
| Date |
[ca. 1831] |
| Physical Description |
1 print: aquatint; sheet 38 x 28 cm (15 x 11 in.) |
| Description |
Racist caricature ridiculing the social pretentions of attendees of an African American dance ball depicting "Mr. Lorenzo"
and his woman dance partner hand in hand as they waltz. In the left, Mr. Lorenzo’s woman partner wears a large, oval-shaped
headpiece with several feathers, an ankle-length dress with trim, puff sleeves and a rope belt with tasseled ends, gloves,
ankle-tied slipper shoes, and jewelry, including earrings and a necklace. She looks toward her dance partner and points her
left foot and has her right perpendicular to it. She asks how he likes the waltz. "Mr. Lorenzo," looks down toward her and
responds that he believes the waltz is "for de common people." He is attired in pantaloons, coat with tails, vest, shirt with
turned up collar, bow tie, gloves, stockings, and black slipper shoes. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated
features. Setting of scene also includes a wooden floor..
|
| Notes |
Title from item. |
|
Date inferred from content and name of publisher. |
|
After the work of Edward W. Clay. |
|
Attributed to William Summers. |
|
Plate 13 of the original series published in Philadelphia. |
|
Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect below the image: How you like de waltz, Mr. Lorenzo? ‘Pon de
honour ob a gentleman I tink it vastly indelicate, _ Only fit for de common people!!
|
|
Charles Hunt was a respected 19th-century London engraver who was most well known for his aquatints of sporting subjects. |
|
RVCDC |
|
Description revised 2021. |
|
Access points revised 2021. |
|
Purchase 1967. |
| Subject |
African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
African American women -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
African American women -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
African Americans -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
Balls (Parties) -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
Conversation. |
|
Middle-class -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. |
|
Racism in popular culture. |
| Genre |
Caricatures -- 1830-1840. |
|
Aquatints -- 1830-1840. |
| Printer |
Isaacs, Harrison, publisher. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [7645.F] |
| Accession number |
7645.F |
