The Model of a Republican President
date: label: Date made
content: n.d.
label: Date made
content: 1834
name: label: depicted
content: Van Buren, Martin
label: depicted
content: Jackson, Andrew
label: depicted
content: Napoleon I Emperor of France
label: depicted
content: Kendall, Amos
label: depicted
content: Taney, Roger Brooke
label: depicted
content: Butler, Benjamin Franklin
label: artist attribution
content: Clay, Edward Williams
label: maker
content: Imbert, Anthony
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This undated caricature of President Andrew Jackson depicts him in full Napoleonic regalia peering into an Empire style mirror and standing next to a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte. The statue of Napoleon and the mirror are the only hand colored aspects of the print, drawing attention to the comparison between Jackson and the Emperor. Jackson was often compared to Napoleon, with critics citing his authoritarian leadership style and blatant use of the veto as concrete parallels between the two leaders. On Jackson’s left is Secretary of Treasury, Roger B. Taney, holding a pillow labeled “Treasury.” Taney was a member of Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet of trusted advisors, and appointed Secretary of the Treasury while Congress was on recess. His appointment angered Jackson’s opponents because Taney, like Jackson, sought the end of the Second National Bank of the United States. Jackson says to Taney, “Oh by the eternal I’ll take the responsibility. Taney give me the whole of it. It does certainly add to the resemblance. ha! ha! ha! I begin to see it myself, I feel like Napoleon, I thirst for glory!! Down with the Monster. Down with the Senate! Glory!!” Taney responds that Jackson is much too thin to fully look like Napoleon, holding the “Treasury” pillow in front of him to complete the allusion. Standing beside Taney, is Vice President Martin Van Buren. He agrees that Jackson resembles Napoleon, and states that Jackson (and the government) should be in control of the money because he and other common men fought to save it and the country during the century’s great wars. In the far right of the print, are additional Kitchen Cabinet members, Attorney General Benjamin F. Butler and Amos Kendall. Butler is handing a piece of paper labeled “Protest to the Senate” to Kendall, who is scribing a “Counter Protest” in preparation. Jackson’s commitment to revoking the charter of the Second National Bank was not popular, and it was largely through the support of his Kitchen Cabinet and key members of the Senate that he was able to do it. Below the print is the quote "I have taken your brother for my model" General Jackson to Joseph Bonaparte.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The lithographer of this print is Anthony Imbert. Imbert is considered a pioneer of American lithography, but he got his artistic start painting marine scenes inspired by his long imprisonment in England as a naval officer. Upon arriving in America he was commissioned to prepare lithographic plates for illustration, leading to a long career in lithography. He captured life in New York City, and many of his prints are important for historical documentation of the city. Imbert died around 1838 as his wife, Mary Imbert is listed as a widow in that year’s city directory.
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: Economy
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, executive branch
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, legislative branch
label: Subject
content: Glasses
label: Subject
content: Uniforms, Military
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
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.60.3356
label: catalog number
content: 60.3356
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 10 in x 17 in; 25.4 cm x 43.18 cm