The Death-Bed Marriage
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
S/NPG.76.18
Tags
Art Historical Context
**The Death-Bed Marriage** a sharp political print created by Thomas Nast in 1872, a master of 19th-century caricature and editorial illustration. Working primarily for *Harper's Weekly*, Nast pioneered the use of wood engravings to sway public opinion through exaggerated portraits and biting satire. This piece, housed in the Smithsonian American Art's collection (with credit to the National Portrait Gallery), exemplifies his style: bold lines, dramatic symbolism, and unflinching commentary on American politics. The artwork depicts Horace Greeley, the famed newspaper publisher, abolitionist, ...