Christmas Eve, 1862
Title
Christmas Eve, 1862
Subject
Morris County Library (Whippany, N.J.); Morris County (N.J.); Nast, Thomas, 1840-1902; Drawings; Art reproductions; Illustrations; Wood-engraving; Reprints; Christmas; Santa Claus.
Description
This Thomas Nast scene resembles a large valentine as it portrayed the love between a wife looking up at the moon and praying for her husband in the left oval while he, on picket duty in front of a camp-fire, gazed longingly at photographs of his family.
Santa was preparing to go down the chimney with gifts for their sleeping children, while distributing packages (upper right) to the troops. Below, the vignettes of soldiers marching, graves, and ships patrolling in a storm emphasized the realities of military life.
Title printed under image reads "Christmas Eve, 1862". (Not signed).
Thomas Nast (American (born Germany), 1840–1902) conceived and introduced our modern image of Santa Claus. Combining European traditions of St. Nicholas with folk images of elves from his native Germany, he created the jolly gift-giver now associated with Christmas.
The Christmas Drawings of Thomas Nast, compiled by William Glover with a foreword by Norman Rockwell. The entire portfolio contains 30 reproductions.
Santa was preparing to go down the chimney with gifts for their sleeping children, while distributing packages (upper right) to the troops. Below, the vignettes of soldiers marching, graves, and ships patrolling in a storm emphasized the realities of military life.
Title printed under image reads "Christmas Eve, 1862". (Not signed).
Thomas Nast (American (born Germany), 1840–1902) conceived and introduced our modern image of Santa Claus. Combining European traditions of St. Nicholas with folk images of elves from his native Germany, he created the jolly gift-giver now associated with Christmas.
The Christmas Drawings of Thomas Nast, compiled by William Glover with a foreword by Norman Rockwell. The entire portfolio contains 30 reproductions.
Creator
Thomas Nast
Source
NJ 974.974 MOR BOX 54
Publisher
The World Publishing Company, New York and Cleveland, 1970
Date
1862 (Wood-engraving); 1970 (this reproduction)
Contributor
William Glover, compiler
Rights
Format
JPEG
Original Format
paper, drawing reproduction
Physical Dimensions
11 x 14 inches
Collection
Citation
Thomas Nast, “Christmas Eve, 1862,” The Archive Project, accessed April 28, 2024, https://mcldig6930.omeka.net/items/show/1570.