Our political snake-charmer – Antique Wall Art
(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
This rare antique engraving captures Our political snake-charmer in remarkable detail. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.
The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. It makes a striking addition to a living room, study or office, and a thoughtful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past has been bringing history to the wall since 2001, for tens of thousands of customers worldwide.
Our political snake-charmer
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The title, "Our political snake-charmer," casts Stephen A. Douglas, the Illinois senator, as a performer who could coax a dangerous creature to do his bidding. The print is dated February 11, 1860, months before the Democratic Party split at its Charleston and Baltimore conventions, and John W. Forney, the Pennsylvania newspaper editor and party operative named alongside Douglas, was one of the Democrats caught in the bitter fight over slavery in the territories. Wood engravings like this one appeared in illustrated weeklies of the period, where caricature was a common way to comment on politicians in the run-up to the 1860 election.
| Created / published | 1860 Feb. 11. |
|---|---|
| Medium | 1 print : wood engraving. |
| Subjects | Douglas, Stephen A. (Stephen Arnold),--1813-1861. Forney, John W. (John Wien),--1817-1881. |
| Source | Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division |
| Original scan | 1,536 × 1,145 px · prints to 5 × 4 in at 300 dpi |
| Reference | AMZ-SOTP-HPA-146940 |
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