Creator |
Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, artist. |
Contributor |
Childs, J. publisher. |
Title |
Handicap race presidential stakes 1844. [graphic] / EWC. |
Publisher |
New York : Published by J. Childs, No. 4 Wall St |
Publisher |
N.Y. New York. 1844 |
Date |
1844 |
Physical Description |
1 print : lithograph ; sheet 36 x 49 cm (14 x 19.25 in.) |
Description |
Satire of the presidential election of 1844 depicting the potential candidates; Whig Henry Clay, and Democrats Martin Van
Buren, Lewis Cass, John Calhoun, Richard M. Johnson, and John Tyler on various mounts racing for the White House. Clay riding
a racoon leads the pack claiming that no one can overtake him. Van Buren follows riding a fox and holding a weather vane labeled
"N" (North) and "S" (South) with the slogans "Free Trade Texas" and "Abolition Oregon" attached. He acknowledges that Lewis
Cass is closing in. Cass on his hound gloats that he has finally overtaken the "old fox." Calhoun, positioned fourth, rides
a lion with an enslaved African American man and child, portrayed in racist caricature, on his shoulders and bemoans his extra
weight. Johnson, on foot and holding a hook, follows Calhoun stating he will "hook on" to whomever gets in. Last is Tyler,
who switched political parties, trying to ride the two mounts of the "Loco Foco" (radical Democrats) donkey and the "Whig"
horse.
|
Is referenced by |
Weitenkampf, p. 80 |
Notes |
Title from item. |
|
Date from copyright statement: Entered according to act of Congress in year 1844 by J. Childs in the Clerk's Office in the
District Court of the Southern District of N.Y.
|
|
Gift of Mrs. Francis P. Garvan, 1977. |
|
Lib. Company. Annual report, 1977, p. 51-52. |
|
RVCDC |
|
Description revised 2021. |
|
Access points revised 2021. |
|
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom
Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
|
Biographical / historical note |
Clay, born in Philadelphia, was a prominent caricaturist, engraver, and lithographer who created the "Life in Philadelphia"
series which satirized middle-class African Americans of the late 1820s and early 1830s.
|
Subject |
Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Johnson, Richard M. (Richard Mentor), 1780-1850 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Tyler, John, 1790-1862 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Democratic Party (U.S.) |
|
Abolition movement -- United States. |
|
African American children -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Animals -- Symbolic aspects. |
|
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1844. |
|
Racing -- United States. |
|
Racism in popular culture. |
|
Enslaved persons -- United States. |
|
Enslaved children -- United States. |
|
Enslaved men -- United States. |
Geographic subject |
United States -- Politics and government -- 1841-1845. |
Genre |
Lithographs -- 1840-1850. |
|
Political cartoons -- 1840-1850. |
Printer |
Childs, J. (John), publisher. |
Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Political cartoons - 1844-55W [8366.F.36] |
Accession number |
8366.F.36 |