Wilde on Us. Something To "Live Up" To in America (published in "Harper's Bazar," June 10, 1882)
This is a proof of a wood engraving published in Harper's Bazar. Oscar Wilde dressed in a velvet suit with knee breeches, points to work boots and a straw hat lettered "The Picturesque Miners in the Rocky Mountains." His pockets are stuffed with moneybags, and sunflowers grow from a column capital behind. More sunflowers and a lily grows from another pair of boots. A hat resting on a cudgel is labeled "For Sun & Rain." Graffiti on the wall behind depicts men fighting, a bottle of liquor, and roosters, with buildings labeled "Mudville." Nast depicts Wilde is in his familiar lecturing garb surrounded by lilies and sunflowers and with money bulging from his pockets. During a lecture tour of America, Wilde visited Leadville, Colorado on April 13, 1882 and there spoke to silver miners.
Artwork Details
- Title: Wilde on Us. Something To "Live Up" To in America (published in "Harper's Bazar," June 10, 1882)
- Artist: Thomas Nast (American (born Germany), Landau 1840–1902 Guayaquil)
- Sitter: Oscar Wilde (Irish, Dublin 1854–1900 Paris)
- Date: originally published 1882
- Medium: Relief print and electrotype
- Dimensions: Sheet: 14 3/16 × 11 1/16 in. (36 × 28.1 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Thomas Nast Jr., Mabel Nast Crawford and Cyril Nast, 1933
- Object Number: 33.35.92
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
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.