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Photo, Print, Drawing The assassination of the Sage of Ashland

[ digital file from b&w film copy neg. ]

About this Item

Title

  • The assassination of the Sage of Ashland

Summary

  • The artist conveys some of the profound disappointment and anger among Henry Clay's many supporters at the nomination of Zachary Taylor at the June 1848 Whig convention in Philadelphia. The convention's act was seen as a betrayal of the elder Whig statesman. In a scene based on act 3, scene 1 of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," the artist portrays Clay's opponents as treacherous conspirators stalking the unsuspecting statesman. Clay is pictured seated in the library of his estate at Ashland in Kentucky, reading the New York "Tribune," whose editor Horace Greeley was a Clay stalwart. Ten men with raised daggers prepare to attack him from behind. These include various Whig powers Daniel Webster, editor James Watson Webb, former New York mayor William V. Brady, Pennsylvania congressman David Wilmot, Kentucky senator and former Clay ally John J. Crittenden, and New York state party boss Thurlow Weed. Webster: "How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport" Webb: "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!!!" Wilmot: "Go to the Pulpit Brutus" Brady: "And you too Cassius" Crittenden: "Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's Should Chance" Weed: "By the necessity of my Nature, Your Enemy".

Names

  • Robinson, Henry R., -1850.

Created / Published

  • N. York : Published by H.R. Robinson, 1848.

Headings

  • -  Brady, William V
  • -  Clay, Henry,--1777-1852
  • -  Crittenden, John J.--(John Jordan),--1787-1863
  • -  Webb, J. Watson.--(James Watson),--1802-1884
  • -  Webster, Daniel,--1782-1852
  • -  Weed, Thurlow,--1797-1882
  • -  Wilmot, David,--1814-1868
  • -  Ashland (Lexington, Ky.)--1840-1850
  • -  Philadelphia (Pa.)--1840-1850
  • -  Presidential elections--United States--1840-1850

Headings

  • Lithographs--1840-1850.
  • Political cartoons--1840-1850.

Notes

  • -  Drawn by "W.J.C."
  • -  Entered . . . 1848 by H.R. Robinson.
  • -  Published by H.R. Robinson 31 Park Row, (Opposite the Park Fountain) N. York.
  • -  Title appears as it is written on the item.
  • -  Lorant, p. 188.
  • -  Weitenkampf, p. 93.
  • -  Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)
  • -  Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1848-22.

Medium

  • 1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; 28.2 x 38.4 cm. (image)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PC/US - 1848.R661, no. 97 (B size) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

Repository

Digital Id

  • cph 3a05236 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a05236

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2008661484

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZ62-1422 (b&w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-1422 (b&w film copy neg.)
  • Call Number: PC/US - 1848.R661, no. 97 (B size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Robinson, Henry R., -1850. The assassination of the Sage of Ashland. United States Pennsylvania Philadelphia, 1848. N. York: Published by H.R. Robinson. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661484/.

APA citation style:

Robinson, H. R. (1848) The assassination of the Sage of Ashland. United States Pennsylvania Philadelphia, 1848. N. York: Published by H.R. Robinson. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661484/.

MLA citation style:

Robinson, Henry R., -1850. The assassination of the Sage of Ashland. N. York: Published by H.R. Robinson. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2008661484/>.