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Republic is Not Ungrateful

Republic is Not Ungrateful
Artist
Thomas Nast, 27 Sep 1840 - 7 Dec 1902
Sitter
Ulysses Simpson Grant, 27 Apr 1822 - 23 Jul 1885
Date
April 13, 1872
Type
Print
Medium
Wood engraving on paper
Dimensions
Image: 36.4 × 23.8 cm (14 5/16 × 9 3/8")
Sheet: 40.9 × 28.5 cm (16 1/8 × 11 1/4")
Topic
Artwork\Sculpture
Weapon\Sword
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Equipment\Shield
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Architecture\Column
Imaginary
Newspaper
Cartoon\Political
Symbols & Motifs\Arrow
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Male
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\President of US
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Congressional Gold Medal
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.87.89
Exhibition Label
Much to President Grant’s advantage, he found a friend and a veritable spokesperson in Thomas Nast, the talented cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly. In 1872, a scandal involving Grant and Credit Mobilier came to light. Credit Mobilier was a bogus company that siphoned millions of federal dollars for alleged completion of the nation’s transcontinental railway.
With his artist’s pen, Nast came to Grant’s defense, much like the figure of Liberty in this cartoon. Grant’s innate honesty and integrity were never questioned. Yet his poor character judgement and staunch loyalty to conniving friends and political cronies left his administration vulnerable to vice and corruption, which sullied his presidency.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view