[Grand Match between the Kinderhook Poney and the Ohio Ploughman]
date: label: Date made
content: 1836
name: label: depicted
content: Van Buren, Martin
label: depicted
content: Jackson, Andrew
label: depicted
content: Harrison, William Henry
label: depicted (possibly)
content: Benton, Thomas Hart
label: depicted (probably)
content: Johnson, Richard Mentor
label: artist
content: Clay, Edward Williams
label: maker
content: Robinson, Henry R.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This lithograph from the Election of 1836 features Whig presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison engaged in a game of billiards with Democratic presidential candidate, Martin Van Buren. Political caricatures were often geared towards the common man, so employing the metaphor of billiards to symbolize the election engaged the voting public in a way they were able to understand. In this particular billiards game, Whig candidate Harrison is attempting his shot with fellow Whig party members (and presidential candidates) Daniel Webster and Henry Clay standing by offering encouragement. At the opposite end of the table, is Democratic presidential hopeful and current Vice President, Martin Van Buren (right), Democratic vice presidential candidate, Richard Mentor Johnson (left), and outgoing President, Andrew Jackson. Both Johnson and Van Buren are confident that Harrison is going to miss his shot, but Jackson warns of what will happen if he doesn’t miss. While the action is happening in the foreground, the background of this caricature is important to contextualize the situation. Behind Harrison is a portrait of George Washington, considered a fair and just ruler, as opposed to Jackson, who is standing in front of a portrait of Napoleon, who was known for being a dictator. Since Van Buren and Jackson were close allies that positioning is meant to reflect badly on Van Buren, and sway voters towards the Whig Party.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The lithographer of this print is Edward Williams Clay (1799-1857). Clay was a caricaturist, engraver, lithographer, and etcher, as well as a portrait painter. Before his career as an artist, Clay was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar, but quickly left to pursue art in New York City. After losing his eyesight he retired from art and held minor office in Delaware before his death in December of 1857.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The publisher of this print is Henry R. Robinson (1827-1877). Robinson worked in New York, and had a store to sell his prints. In 1842, he was arrested for selling obscene pictures and books leading to the September 28, 1842 court case, People vs H. R. Robinson found in the District Attorney Indictment Papers, Municipal Archives. He was politically affiliated with the anti-Jackson Whig party, which was made obvious by the wig silhouette used in 1838 as an advertising logo for his shop.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Furnishings
label: Subject
content: Patriotism and Patriotic Symbols
label: Subject
content: Chronology: 1830-1839
label: Subject
content: Glasses
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
label: depicted
content: Eagles
label: Subject
content: Games
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Peters Political Prints
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content: Art
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3343
label: catalog number
content: 60.3343
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 9 5/8 in x 17 3/8 in; 24.4475 cm x 44.1325 cm