ARTIST: Thomas Nast
PUBLISHER: Published by Harper's Weekly. June 29, 1878.
MEDIUM: Wood engraving,
DATE: 1878.
EDITION SIZE: Image size 13 1/8 x 19 3/4" (33.1 x 50.2 cm).
DESCRIPTION: This political cartoon was likely made in reference to the Russo-Turkish War (April 1877 – March 1878), which had only recently ended at the time of publication. The war, despite outward claims to Europe, was religiously based - the Tsar wanted to free Turkey's Christians from the "tyranny" of Islam. The artist, Thomas Nast, made several anti-Russia, anti-religious warfare, illustrations during the war period (one of which likened the Russian Tsar to a Crusader, a notation that is better understood when it is taken into account that Rome and Catholicism were largely hated in America). <br><br> In this cartoon Athena is seen guarding the ancient Greek temple of "Civilization" from the Russian barbarians (a centaur-Cossack). In the distance, on the right, birds fly ominously over a burning mosque. On the ground, at the centaur's feet, is broken moon-staff. Both represent the barbaric war Catholic Russia had recently waged on the Islamic Ottoman empire. The Greek temple behind Athena reads "Civilization: Political, Progress, Constitutional Government," all of which further attack Russia because Athena will not allow their religious conquest to pass any further into Europe.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition.
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