Details
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: hand-colored aquatint; 26 x 21 cm (10.25 x 8 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 pink, large, oval-shaped headpiece with several feathers, an ankle-length yellow dress with pink trim, puff sleeves and a rope belt with tasseled ends, white gloves, white 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 white pantaloons, a brown coat with tails, white vest, white shirt with turned up collar, white bow tie, white gloves, white stockings, and black slipper shoes. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring. 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 Willam Summers.
Plate 13 of the original series published in Philadelphia.
Inscribed: Plate 13.
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.
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 -- Hand-colored -- 1830-1840.
Printer Isaacs, Harrison, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9707.4]
Accession number P.9707.4