Seventh Ward Beggars
This satire criticizes President Andrew Jackson’s decision in 1832 to dissolve the Bank of the United States. From 1833, the president and his cabinet distributed government funds through "pet" state banks and, according to this print, used the system to solicit kickbacks. Kneeling bankers here implore a king-like Jackson, who holds a scepter and sits on bales of surplus cash, for funds. New York bankers were affected by this new arrangement, and the city’s Seventh Ward Bank appears in the background. The man dressed in a brown suit is identified as "a spy" for the Courier & Enquirer, a New York newspaper that reported Washington political news in detail and whose editor turned against Jacksonian populism.
Artwork Details
- Title: Seventh Ward Beggars
- Artist and publisher: Henry R. Robinson (American, died 1850)
- Subject: Andrew Jackson (American, Waxhaws, Carolinas 1767–1845 Davidson County, Tennessee)
- Subject: Reuben Miles Whitney (American, 1788–1845)
- Published in: New York
- Date: 1839
- Medium: Lithograph, hand colored
- Dimensions: sheet: 13 1/4 x 18 5/8 in. (33.7 x 47.3 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
- Object Number: 54.90.1368
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Henry R. Robinson
Frank Chanfrau
ca. 1849
Multiple artists/makers
1836
Henry R. Robinson
Justus Danckerts
1836–42
Henry R. Robinson
John A. Rolph
1843
Henry R. Robinson
J. or T. Peters
1835–49
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.