The Sacred Elephant, from "Harper's Weekly"

Skip to main content
The Sacred Elephant, from "Harper's Weekly"
The Sacred Elephant, from "Harper's Weekly"
Artist/Maker (American, born Germany, 1840 - 1902)
Datepublished March 8, 1884
MediumWood engraving on newsprint
DimensionsComposition: 10 5/8 × 9 3/8 in. (27 × 23.8 cm) Sheet: 15 3/4 × 11 1/4 in. (40 × 28.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of Professor Emeritus Jay Williams, Class of 1954
Object number2019.13.588
Not on view
DescriptionElephant standing center wears a howdah reading "Republican / Party", strapped on by belt reading "Civil Service Reform". Band over elephant's face reads "US". Man stands below holding the elephant's trunk. In the background a building reading "White House" has an American Flag flying from it. Captioned "This Animal is Sure to Win, if it is Only Kept Pure and Clean, and has not too Heavy a Load to Carry." typeset beneath title in black ink.
Collections

Additional Details

Provenance 2019: Hamilton College (Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art), by gift of Jay G. Williams.
Markings None noted.
Signature Signed "Th Nast" in block at lower right composition.
Inscribed Title typeset beneath image in black ink; Publisher banner headline typeset above image in black ink: "Harper's Weekly / Journal of Civilization / Vol. XXVIII.-No. 1420. / Copyright, 1884, by Harper & Brothers. New York, Saturday, March 8, 1884. Ten Cents a Copy. / $4.00 Per Year, In Advance."
"The Elephant Walks Around" and the "Still Hunt" is Nearly Over, from "Harper's Weekly"
"The Elephant Walks Around" and the "Still Hunt" is Nearly Over, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published October 28, 1876
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.345
The ‘Readjusting’ Performances, from "Harper's Weekly"
The ‘Readjusting’ Performances, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published April 16, 1881
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.554
Saved (?) by the Skin of his---, from "Harper's Weekly"
Saved (?) by the Skin of his---, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 24, 1877
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.391
The Horse and His Rider, from "Harper's Weekly"
The Horse and His Rider, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published June 27, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.245
Photo by John Bentham.
Beluga Whale - Delphinapterus leucas, from the series "Animalia / Creatures"
Henry Horenstein
Date: 1995-2001
Medium: Cibachrome
Object number: 2019.18.14
Photo by John Bentham.
Now for a Good Wash it is Necessary
Thomas Nast
Date: published June 4, 1892
Medium: Lithograph
Object number: 1944.1.49
Out of One into Another?, from "Harper's Weekly"
Out of One into Another?, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 6, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.297
'The Indifference' of Uncle Sam, from "Harper's Weekly"
'The Indifference' of Uncle Sam, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published December 9, 1876
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.353
Any Thing but a ‘Pacific Mail’, from "Harper's Weekly"
Any Thing but a ‘Pacific Mail’, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published March 6, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.274
The Hobby in the Kinder-Garten, from "Harper's Weekly"
The Hobby in the Kinder-Garten, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published October 24, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.257
The Third Term Panic, from "Harper's Weekly"
The Third Term Panic, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 7, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.258
Photograph by John Bentham.
Plate XI, from the series "Elephant Skull"
Henry Moore
Date: 1969 (published 1970)
Medium: Etching
Object number: 1988.21