[Frontis illus. of books by Mason Locke Parson" Weems (1759-1825): "he writhes. he gnashes his teeth. on bended knee he curses the author of his ruin" [gambler]]" – Antique Print
![[Frontis illus. of books by Mason Locke Parson" Weems (1759-1825): "he writhes. he gnashes his teeth. on bended knee he curses the author of his ruin" [gambler]]" — historic print](https://images.jameslantos.com/img/0a/0af5d0d28a18-L.webp)
(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)
Description
Step back in time with [Frontis illus. of books by Mason Locke Parson" Weems (1759-1825): "he writhes. he gnashes his teeth. on bended knee he curses the author of his ruin" [gambler]]", a historic print rich in period detail. It comes from the collections of the Library of Congress, scanned from the original and carefully restored.
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[Frontis illus. of books by Mason Locke Parson" Weems (1759-1825): "he writhes. he gnashes his teeth. on bended knee he curses the author of his ruin" [gambler]]"
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A kneeling gambler, caption-quoted as writhing and gnashing his teeth while he curses "the author of his ruin," makes this 1812 frontispiece a piece of moral theater rather than a portrait. Mason Locke Weems, the Episcopal clergyman and bookseller best known for his popular biography of George Washington, used such dramatic scenes to warn readers against cards, dice and the ruin they brought to families. The plate's melodramatic gestures reflect the didactic style of early American popular literature, in which vice was shown in full view so that readers would see its consequences clearly.
| Medium | 1 print. |
|---|---|
| Notes | 1812 |
| Source | Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division |
| Original scan | 897 × 1,536 px · prints to 3 × 5 in at 300 dpi |
| Reference | AMZ-SOTP-HPA-139749 |
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