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Uncle Sams youngest son, Citizen Know Nothing
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Uncle Sams youngest son, Citizen Know Nothing
Uncle Sams youngest son, Citizen Know Nothing. A bust portrait of a young man representing the nativist ideal of the Know Nothing party. He wears a bold tie and a fedora-type hat tilted at a rakish angle. The portrait is framed by intricate carving and scrollwork surmounted by an eagle with a shield, and is draped by an American flag. Behind the eagle is a gleaming star. The flag hangs from a staff at left which has a liberty cap on its end. The Citizen Know Nothing figure appears in several nativist prints of the period (for instance The Young America Schottisch, no. 1855-5) and is probably an idealized type rather than an actual individual. The publishers, Williams, Stevens, Williams & Company, were art dealers with a gallery on Broadway. Date c1854. Uncle Sams youngest son, Citizen Know Nothing. A bust portrait of a young man representing the nativist ideal of the Know Nothing party. He wears a bold tie and a fedora-type hat tilted at a rakish angle. The portrait is framed by intricate carving and scrollwork surmounted by an eagle with a shield, and is draped by an American flag. Behind the eagle is a gleaming star. The flag hangs from a staff at left which has a liberty cap on its end. The Citizen Know Nothing figure appears in several nativist prints of the period (for instance The Young America Schottisch, no. 1855-5) and is probably an idealized type rather than an actual individual. The publishers, Williams, Stevens, Williams & Company, were art dealers with a gallery on Broadway. Date c1854
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Media ID 7301666
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Uncle Sam's Youngest Son: Introducing Citizen Know Nothing, an Iconic Symbol of Nativist Ideals in Antebellum America This portrait showcases Uncle Sam's youngest son, Citizen Know Nothing, an enduring symbol of the nativist ideal during the Antebellum era in the United States. The young man, dressed in a bold tie and a fedora-style hat tilted at a rakish angle, gazes confidently at the viewer. The portrait is framed by intricately carved scrollwork and surmounted by an eagle holding a shield, with a gleaming star behind. The American flag, draped over the frame, hangs from a staff adorned with a liberty cap. Citizen Know Nothing, an idealized type rather than an actual individual, emerged as a prominent figure in various nativist prints of the period, such as The Young America Schottisch (no. 1855-5). The publishers, Williams, Stevens, Williams & Company, were renowned art dealers with a gallery on Broadway, who produced and distributed these powerful images. The nativist movement, also known as the Know Nothing Party, was a political organization that sought to restrict immigration, particularly from Catholic countries, and to promote "native-born" Americans. This portrait embodies the nativist ideal of a young, confident, and patriotic American, standing proudly before an eagle, the symbol of freedom and power. The liberty cap on the staff further emphasizes the connection to the ideals of the American Revolution and the pursuit of liberty. This evocative image offers a glimpse into the complex political climate of Antebellum America, where nativist sentiments and the desire for American identity intertwined, shaping the cultural and political landscape of the time.
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