Newspaper: Uncut edition of Harper's Weekly, April 14, 1866, with illustration of the Grand Masquerade Ball.
illustration
April 14 1866 (Date manufactured/created)
Paper Documentary Artifact
16.5 in H
X
11.5 in W
Full volume of Harper's Weekly for April 14, 1866. This uncut edition includes news stories and illustrations, but features one that includes P. T. Barnum in a larger spread titled, "Grand Masquerade Ball Given by Mr. Maretzek at the Academy of Music, April 5, 1866." The centerfold illustration, which runs from page 232 to 233 (with its story on page 234) was drawn by the famous cartoonist Thomas Nast. Barnum's portrait is on page 233 along the top. His portrait is titled at the top "Phoenix," and at the bottom the text reads "Barnum's American Museum."
The reference to a phoenix rising from the ashes relates to Barnum's rapid recovery after the burning of his American Museum on Broadway at Ann Street. Within a few months he reopened in a nearby location, 539-541 Broadway. The words are highlighted by "white" flames, and underneath are tiny figures of people putting out a fire. Barnum's first American Museum burned to the ground on July 13, 1865. His second museum would later burn, too, in March of 1868.
The illustration is a representation of actual caricatures that Nast drew for the Bal d'Opera which took place at the Academy of Music on April 5, 1866. There are sixteen portraits of "newsmakers" surrounding an illustration of the ball. Not all are fully identified, but among them are Andrew Johnson, John Wilkes Booth, Wendell Phillips, Horace Greeley, Thomas Nast, Miss Kellogg, Miss Bateman, Edwin Stanton, and others. These caricatures formed part of the decorations at the event. The article on page 234 provides information about the decor and guests, and notes that the caricatures were to be sold soon after the event, at the Somerville Art Gallery on Broadway near 14th street.
The reference to a phoenix rising from the ashes relates to Barnum's rapid recovery after the burning of his American Museum on Broadway at Ann Street. Within a few months he reopened in a nearby location, 539-541 Broadway. The words are highlighted by "white" flames, and underneath are tiny figures of people putting out a fire. Barnum's first American Museum burned to the ground on July 13, 1865. His second museum would later burn, too, in March of 1868.
The illustration is a representation of actual caricatures that Nast drew for the Bal d'Opera which took place at the Academy of Music on April 5, 1866. There are sixteen portraits of "newsmakers" surrounding an illustration of the ball. Not all are fully identified, but among them are Andrew Johnson, John Wilkes Booth, Wendell Phillips, Horace Greeley, Thomas Nast, Miss Kellogg, Miss Bateman, Edwin Stanton, and others. These caricatures formed part of the decorations at the event. The article on page 234 provides information about the decor and guests, and notes that the caricatures were to be sold soon after the event, at the Somerville Art Gallery on Broadway near 14th street.
2015.005.001