PHILADELPHIA MILITIA SATIRE WITH “OLD HICKORY” BANNERS BY EDWARD WILLIAMS CLAY

[Edward Williams Clay (1799-1857), artist]. The Nation's Bulwark. A well disciplined Militia. Hand-colored engraving. Philadelphia: R.H. Hobson, 1829. 13 7/16 x 9 1/8 in. Davison. E.W. Clay, no. 21; Weitenkampf, American Graphic Art, p. 215

A satirical depiction of a Philadelphia militia company by the American cartoonist Edward Williams Clay (1799–1857). The scene portrays a motley assemblage of militiamen gathered under the command of an officer dressed in a frock coat with epaulettes and a plumed hat. In contrast to their commander’s martial bearing, most of the men appear in civilian clothing and stand at varying (and often comically imperfect) degrees of attention. Their mismatched attire and relaxed posture lend the group a distinctly humorous quality, suggesting a volunteer militia whose enthusiasm exceeds its discipline.

In the background, two tents display political banners reading “Hurrah for Old Hickory” and “Jackson For Ever,” referencing Andrew Jackson and his ardent supporters. The slogans place the scene squarely within the fervent political atmosphere of the Jacksonian era, when public rallies, militia musters, and political gatherings often blended into spectacles of popular enthusiasm.

This print was intended as the first number in Clay’s proposed series Sketches of Character, in which he caricatured recognizable types and personalities from contemporary Philadelphia society. Although conceived as a continuing series, this appears to have been the only number issued. The figures represented are believed to be caricatures of well-known Philadelphians of the period, rendered with Clay’s characteristic wit and observational sharpness.

Clay was among the earliest American artists to produce sustained series of political and social caricatures in lithographic form, helping to establish a distinctly American tradition of satirical printmaking in the decades before the Civil War. Prints such as the present example not only lampooned local personalities and civic institutions, but also reflected the vibrant political culture of the early republic, when militia companies, public gatherings, and partisan politics formed a visible part of urban life.

As both a humorous social commentary and an early example of American political caricature, the print offers a vivid glimpse into the intersection of militia culture, local identity, and Jacksonian politics in nineteenth-century Philadelphia.

[Art, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera] [Militaria]

Tape repair to verso. Minor paper residue to verso.