Reproduction of a half-length portrait of George M. Stroud, the Philadelphia judge and author of the abolitionist text, "A Sketch of the Laws relating to Slavery: in the Several States of the United States of America (Philadelphia: 1827, reprinted 1856)." Stroud, attired in a white collared shirt, a black bowtie, waistcoat, and jacket, sits facing left. In the background is a bookcase with books and a globe and a drape., Title from manuscript note on mount., Date based on presented age of sitter., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of portraits. McAllister Collection, gift, 1886., 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.
Date
[ca. 1865]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department cdv portraits - sitter - Stroud [(3)5750.F.61b]
Architects: Machinery Hall, Bldg. #2 - Henry Pettit & Joseph M. Wilson; World's Ticket Office, Bldg. #84 - H.J. Schwarzmann; Pennsylvania Railroad Office, Bldg. #113 - J.M. Wilson; Judge's Hall, Bldg. #109 - H.J. Schwarzmann & Hugh Kafka; Memorial Hall/Art Gallery, Bldg. #101 - H.J. Schwarzmann; Main Exhibition Building, Bldg. #1 - Henry Pettit & Joseph M. Wilson.
Exterior view of buildings lining Republic Avenue. On the road in front is a horse and cart and railroad tracks.
Racist caricature depicting a courtroom scene where an African American man magistrate hears the case of an African American man detained for drunkenness and "-sulting de Fair sec." In the left, the judge who has one foot wrapped and raised on a foot rest sits at a table and holds a glass of liquid with a spoon in it near a bottle and corkscrew. He has a receding hairline, wears glasses, and is attired in a blue waistcoat, tan vest, white shirt and bowtie, black pantaloons, and a black shoe with a buckle. He states that the detainee has put a "Fair Face" on the matter, but "appearances are bery Black" against him. In the right, the hiccupping detainee, who is attired in a worn, striped shirt and blue jacket, and white patched pants is held by his jacket by an African American man constable attired in a brown robe with yellow details and black slip on shoes with buckles. He holds a staff in his right hand. The detainee explains to the judge that he is innocent and that all he did was ask to "scort a lady home." Next to the judge stands an African American man secretary, attired in a dark jacket and white shirt and bow tie. He stands with a quill in his hand in front of a ledger, ready to write down the testimony. Figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with black hand coloring., Title from item., Date inferrred from content and name of publisher., Contains three dialogue bubbles above the image: Please y-r Worship I hab taken up dis Nigger!! case he’s -nebriated and -sulting to de Fair sec./Well, young man, you seem to put a bery, Fair Face, on the matter. But, I can assure you, Appearances, are bery Black, against you. What hab you to say, to de Charge./It wasn’t me yr (hiccup) Honor. Dis old Black Beadle kick’d up (hiccup) all de Row case I asked bebe to scort a Lady home., 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.
Creator
Summers, William, artist
Date
[ca. 1833]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Life in Philadelphia (London Set) [P.9710.5]
