[Tammany's four knaves] - Drawing. Public domain image.

A hand grasps four playing cards, an allusion to the taxpayer as the player to which the cards were dealt. The cards represent the kings of each of the four suits, but their faces belong to the four principal members of Tammany's notorious Tweed Ring. From left to right are: William Marcy "Boss" Tweed, dominant force of Tammany from 1866 to 1871, representing the King of Diamonds with a ribbon across his chest labeled "Americus;" Peter B. Sweeny, the devious brains behind the Tweed gang, as the King of Clubs; Tammany mayor, Abraham Oakey Hall (also called "Elegant Oakey," responsible for the unscrupulous cover-up of frauds perpetrated by the group, as the King of Hearts; Comptroller, Richard "Slippery Dick" Connolly, as the King of Spades.

No copyright information found with item.

Signed, center right: Th: Nast.

Title from The Illustrated American.

Bequest and gift; Caroline and Erwin Swann; 1974; (DLC/PP-1974:232.473)

Infamous for their institutionalized graft and fraud, Tweed and his associates cost the New York city and state treasuries between $45 million and $200 million in plundered funds.

Published as illustration in: "A New York Family" / by Edgar Fawcett. The Illustrated American, August 30, 1890; A New York Family / by Edgar Fawcett. New York: Cassell Publishing Co., 1891.

Exhibit loan 4207-L.

Exhibited: Corcoran Gallery of Art, "The Great Game of Politics," 1972.

tweed ring playing cards drawings american editorial cartoons periodical illustrations tammany knaves cartoon drawings swann collection of caricature and cartoon thomas nast drawing tammany four knaves new york city new york businessmen boss tweed politicians political cartoons prints public domain cartoon images nga

01/01/1890

National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

http://www.loc.gov/

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