Nast left the staff of Harper’s Weekly in 1886 and later published a magazine called Nast’s Weekly. His illustrations were large and visually appealing. Thomas Nast first developed a great admiration for General Grant during the Civil War. He used his skills to attack political corruption, as illustrated in his visual assault on 'Boss' Tweed. List of the Best Computer Graphics Schools and Colleges in the U.S. In 1862, Nast joined the staff of Harper's Weekly, and earned recognition for his vivid, compassionate battlefield and camp scenes. Soon after Nast took up his duties there, he became ill. Nast showed an interest in drawing from an early age, but much less so in school, dropping out at the age of 14. just create an account. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.) Submit Work . ... glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Select a subject to preview related courses: At the height of his career, Nast was one of the highest paid artists in America. When he was only 15, young Nast obtained a job as an artist on Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | His style of political reporting comically mocked Government officials and worked to end political corruption in the years after the Civil War. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? In need of work, his friend President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him as the U.S. general counsel to Ecuador. - Definition & Examples, Respiratory Splinting: Definition & Techniques, Managing Rehabilitation Services & Programs, Quiz & Worksheet - Assessing Scientific Questions, Quiz & Worksheet - Purpose of Public Schooling, Quiz & Worksheet - Achilles' Strength Quotations, Flashcards - Real Estate Marketing Basics, Flashcards - Promotional Marketing in Real Estate, MTEL History (06): Practice & Study Guide, DSST Business Ethics and Society: Study Guide & Test Prep, Praxis General Science (5435): Practice & Study Guide, Quiz & Worksheet - Ellipsis and Dashes in Text, Quiz & Worksheet - Elasticity of Demand Formula, Quiz & Worksheet - Industrial Market Segments, Quiz & Worksheet - Benefits & Types of Leisure Activities for Adults, Quiz & Worksheet - Peter Senge's Personal Mastery Principle, How to Use Study.com to Boost Your Employees' Skills, How to Activate a Study.com Group Plan Account, Common Core State Standards in New Mexico, Study.com's Workforce College Accelerator, Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers. Halloran, Fiona Deans. Thomas Nast (1840-1902) was a political cartoonist considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon.” Born in Landau, Germany, Nast’s family immigrated to New York City when he was six. In 1862 the artist joined the staff of Harper’s Weekly and turned to political cartooning. free and happy home. In the late 1860s he began his famous attack on the Tweed Ring. Thomas Nast was born in 1840, in Landau, Germany. Thomas Nast: Political Cartoonist. Britannica does not review the converted text. courses that prepare you to earn All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. When he was 6 years old his mother took him to New York City. Known as “The President Maker,” Nast’s persuasive, and sometimes scathing cartoons proved crucial in influencing the nation’s vote and affecting the outcomes of six presidential elections between 1864 and 1884. New York: Oxford University Press, 1968. His support and sympathetic portrayal of Union soldiers endeared him to Abraham Lincoln, who boasted that Nast helped recruitment numbers. In the early 1880s, photochemical reproductions replaced engraved woodblocks and undermined Nast's bread-and-butter technique. Although he initially gained fame for his artistic portrayals of Civil War battles, Nast was most famous for his editorial cartoons which brought attention to the criminal activities of William Marcy “Boss” Tweed's Tammany Hall Democratic Party political machine in New York City, from which Tweed and his friends illegally benefitted. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Who popularized the idea that Santa Claus lives in the North Pole? In 1862, Nast took a job as illustrator with Harper's Weekly, a political magazine with which he is best associated, and it was his primary job until he left in 1886. All thomas nast artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. President Lincoln was so impressed that he called Nast his 'best recruiting sergeant', since his cartoons inspired draftees. In 1859 he began contributing cartoons to Harper’s Weekly. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? Title: Illustrations and political cartoons by Thomas Nast Creator(s): Nast, Thomas, 1840-1902, artist ... For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. Nast's highly-opinionated editorial cartoons earned him many enemies. His illustrations supported the causes he believed in and the candidates he thought were best. In fact, when he was later arrested and sent to prison, he escaped and fled to Spain, where he was subsequently identified based on Nast's cartoons! Nast proved to be as skilled with the visual image as others were with the written word. The young Nast proved a poor student, but a talented artist. Did you know… We have over 200 college One of his most popular illustrations was titled 'Compromise with the South', which depicted Columbia - sort of a female version of Uncle Sam - weeping over the grave of Union soldiers while a surviving Union and Confederate soldier shake hands. Visit the American Government: Help and Review page to learn more. After translating an article, all tools except font up/font down will be disabled. . In the centre of the picture is a . The cartoons and caricatures drawn by Thomas Nast did much to destroy the Tweed Ring, a group of corrupt politicians who plundered the treasury of New York City. The popularity of P.T. How can you help? Nast accepted and traveled to Ecuador on July 1, 1902 where he contracted yellow fever and died just five months later. That's not a bad resume! A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar. Get access risk-free for 30 days, Nast St. Hill, Thomas. Thomas Nast was born on Sept. 27, 1840, in Landau, Germany. He had a playful side too, with his drawings of Santa Claus. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. First, magazines increasingly favored more entertaining subjects. ', Create an account to start this course today. His father played the trombone in a regimental band. Thomas Nast is best remembered for his role in exposing the political corruption of the politician William Tweed and his associates who had defrauded the New York City taxpayers of millions of dollars. List of Top Universities with German Programs, Cartoonist: Job Description and Career Information. Anyone can earn No, the item is not digitized. He accepted an offer from the New York Illustrated News in 1860 and went to Europe to draw pictures of news events there. When he was 6 years old his mother took him to New York City. Choose a language from the menu above to view a computer-translated version of this page. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Due in large part to the publicity brought on by Nast, Tweed was arrested and died in jail. Doomed by Cartoon: How Cartoonist Thomas Nast and The New York Times Brought Down Boss Tweed and His Ring of Thieves. In 1872, concerned for his family’s safety, Nast and his wife, Sarah, relocated from New York City to Morristown, New Jersey to raise their five children. New York, Dover Publications, 1974. Soon after, due to bad investments, Nast fell heavily into debt. Please go to #2. 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Although the idea of the donkey originated in the administration of Andrew Jackson, its artistic images were largely the work of Nast. Having started with Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper in the mid-1850s, the young German-born artist was working for Harper's Weekly by 1862. He died in Guayaquil on Dec. 7, 1902. He drew on the battlefield and handed these over to his magazine, which turned them into wood engravings. His father played the trombone in a regimental band. . This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. My constituents can't read. His social circle increased, as Nast and his wife Sarah were close friends with Julia and Ulysses S. Grant, and frequently visited them in the White House. His sympathetic view of African-Americans during Reconstruction contributed to the civil rights conscience. We need your help to keep this project alive and growing. His popularity waned a bit in the late 1870s, for several reasons. Learn Math in the Blogosphere: 10 Top Math Blogs, Online Schools and Colleges with Cartooning Programs: How to Choose, Comic Cartoonist: Employment Info & Career Requirements, Caricaturist: Job Outlook & Career Information. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. I don't care so much what the papers write about me. New York: Morgan James Publishing, 2008. Frustrated with politics in Germany, he sent his wife and kids to New York City in 1846, and reunited with them in 1850. (See also Cartoons; Santa Claus.). Thomas Nast: Cartoons and Illustrations. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him consul general at Guayaquil, Ecuador, early in 1902.