Black History
Engraved Print "Life in Philadelphia. - A Black Tea Party."
c. 1833, Black History Related Engraving titled, "Life in Philadelphia. A Black Tea Party.", Engraved by Charles Hunt, W. Summers, Del., Published by W.H. Isaacs, Charles St. Soho, London, Fine.
This scarce Racist Engraving measures about 10" x 8.5", engraved by Charles Hunt. Printed on heavy wove period paper slightly trimmed at right, small splits along the right side reinforced on the blank reverse, and is suitable for framing and display. Overall, a Racist caricature satirizing the African American guests and hosts, "Mr. Ludovico" and "Miss Rosabella," of a tea party. To the far right of the table, "Miss Rosabella," attired in a cap sleeve dress, pours steaming hot tea into a cup which tips over and spills onto a startled black cat on the floor. To her right, "Mr. Ludovico," attired in a waistcoat, passes a plate of sandwiches to "Miss Araminta," attired in a puff sleeved dress and who protests his taking the trouble. Next to them, a frowning, woman guest, attired in a puff sleeved dress asks "Miss Rosabella" for "anoder cup" of tea after she helps the other guests. An African American man servant (in the right) and the other guests (in the left), a mother holding her baby and resting her feet on an ottoman and her young son seated on a small chair, observe and comment about the spilled tea on the cat and the flirtatious behavior of "Mr. Ludovico." The man servant wears a jacket with epaulets. He holds a cloth. The mother wears a dress with puffed sleeves. The boy wears a smock shirt and pants. He drinks a cup of tea. The scene is set in a parlor decorated with a carpet with an ornate pattern. Figures are depicted with oversize and exaggerated features. The women figures wear their hair in top knots, except the mother who wears a round, soft brimmed hat adorned with bows.
Charles Hunt was a respected London engraver who was most well known for his aquatints of sporting subjects. In 1828, Edward Williams Clay began to issue a series of engravings he titled "Life in Philadelphia," depicting members of Philadelphia's free black community in various stereotypical and absurd situations.
They were so popular that other English engravers took up the theme and not to be outdone, produced a series of images that were even more exaggerated and vile than Mr. Clay's. The present is one of the better-known English engravings from that series.