Knight Scorpio Blaine scaling the Reed and Mckinley Chinese Wall

Folger bibliographic ID: 248914
Folger call number: For access, follow the Linked Resources hyperlink
Folger holdings ID: 320807

General notes

History: Most of the work Nast completed in the 1880's was done for publication in Harper's illustrated weekly. The LC Prints and Photos Division index to Harper's illustrations lists no cartoon by this title. Published works on Nast make no reference to this particular cartoon and it is not known whether or not it was ever published. A blue pencil note on an attached label reading '4 cols' seems to indicate that the cartoon was meant for publication Provenance: Drawing was purchased from the sale of the collection of Thomas Nast, held in N.Y. by Merwin Clayton, April 2-3, 1906. Item is listed as no.476 on the sale catalog, in the section headed 'Black and White Drawings' Subject: Drawing is an American political cartoon ca. 1882, depicting James G. Blaine, in a knight's suit of armor, climbing over the top of a wall to face Thomas B. Reed behind a canon bearing the head of William McKinley for its mouth. Another unidentified politician is pictured holding a sword. The issue Nast lampoons is presumed to be the controversy over the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Along with the title Nast includes a caption (in ink on verso) as follows: "The Political Stage / Then an old political soldier; / Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, / Jealous in greed, sudden and quick in quarrel, / Seeking the bubble spoils / Even in the Cannon's mouth.' Shakespeare. As you like it." [Act II, Sc. 7] The following words (underlined in the original) indicate Nast's additions or changes to Jacques' 'All the World's a Stage' speech: "The Political Stage," "an old political," "greed," "spoils," and "Cannon's." Title and note on verso repeated on slips of paper attatched at upper and lower edges This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance Title from ink note on verso. Executed on artist's board, blind stamp in lower left, covered by a pencil number '476'. J. Whatman watermark with indecipherable date is visible on verso (lower right corner). Signed lower left Also available as a digital reproduction

Extended title: Knight Scorpio Blaine scaling the Reed and Mckinley Chinese Wall Th: Nast

Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893 McKinley, William, 1843-1901 Reed, Thomas B. 1839-1902 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. As you like it

artist: Nast, Thomas, 1840-1902
depiction: Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893
depiction: McKinley, William, 1843-1901
depiction: Reed, Thomas B. (Thomas Brackett), 1839-1902