Today, one can still admire the stained-glass depiction of Nicholas carrying a bishops cross and miter. He is considered the "Father of the American Cartoon." In Germany, where the Reformation led by the monk Martin Luther banned saint worship, Nicholas was replaced by ChristKindl (Christ Child). Santa Claus speaking to a child on the telephone, based on a Thomas Nast illustration. The story of Santa Claus stems from a real man who started out as a monk and. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Nast vigorously supported the cause of the Union and opposed slavery from his drawing board at Harpers Weekly. But Nast's racial attitudes like those of many other Americans were not without contradictions. The drawing was by 22-year-old Thomas Nast, who was born in Germany and came to New York with his family at age 6. 1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, along with Clement Clarke Moores poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus His most famous drawing of Santa Claus appeared in the January 1, 1881 issue of Harpers Weekly. His wife and children made cameo appearances, and their Morristown home often served as the backdrop. Santa Claus exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion. However, his roots run deeper. It was into this world that the talented artist Thomas Nast arrived in the 1850s. Known as The President Maker, Nasts persuasive, and sometimes scathing, cartoons proved crucial in influencing the nations vote and affecting the outcomes of six presidential elections between 1864 and 1884. Thomas Nast was born September 27, 1840, in Landau Germany. Subscribe to the magazine. His father, Joseph Thomas Nast, joined them in 1849 at the end of his enlistment. He was a poor student, but evenfrom an early age, Nast showed an interest in drawing. Thomas Nast did not invent the American Christmas, but the German immigrant did develop the iconic image of its central celebratory figure, Santa Claus. At the age of fifteen, he got his first job as a professional illustrator for Frank Leslies Illustrated News. Images of the Anglo-American Santa Claus or Father Christmas has come to dominate the modern Christmas. His most famous drawing of Santa Claus appeared in the January 1, 1881 issue ofHarpers Weekly. Her paintings remain popular in Sweden today, where they are reprinted every year. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. . His father was a musician in a military band with strong political opinions, and he decided the family would be better off living in America. 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Nasts illustrations in Harpers Weekly were printed in black and white. Nast's view of the Democratic platform for the divisive presidential electionof 1868 places the Democratic candidate in partnership with the poor Irish of the North and loyal Confederates of the South (and its Lost Cause) to keep black men from gaining access to government. Where did he come from, why does he do it, and how does he accomplish this seemingly impossible task? As a political cartoonist for Harpers, the strongly abolitionist Nast created a stream of pro-Union, anti-Confederacy images throughout the American Civil War. Santa Claus represents one of the Christmas seasons most iconic images. By the end of the 18th century, at the time of the 1776 Revolution, Santa Claus became the symbol of American resistance against the British occupying forces! He also popularized the Democratic Partys donkey. This image helped to cement the idea of Santa as a jolly, kind-hearted figure who brings joy to children on Christmas. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! Corrections? Please confirm you want to block this member. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. published in 1823 in the Troy Sentinental: he was "chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf"; he arrived on a sleigh drawn by flying . Yet his Dutch name was distorted and Americanized into Santa Claus. Publishing regularly in Harper's. The story of Santa Claus stems from a real man who started out as a monk and became the patron saint of children. Actually, the original Santa was rather slim, but cartoonists and commercial ads artists gave him a makeover. ' (WVUE) Cartoonist Thomas Nast, more than any other single individual, seems responsible for our modern day image of Santa Claus as a fat, bearded elf. Nast routinely criticized him for this corruption, depicting him here as only having money for brains. After the war, Nast continued to draw often-scathing political commentary. One of the most inspiring pictures was Christmas Eve, a double-circle picture that shows a soldiers wife praying for the safety of her husband and in the next circle appears soldier seated by a campfire, looking at photographs of his family. Did St Nicholas wear green? Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. IsThisProtecting Life, Liberty, or Property? He supported Abraham Lincoln andPresident Abraham Lincolndescribed Nast as the best recruiting sergeant for the Union cause since his sketchesinspired readers to support the war effort. In this poem inspired by the folk legends of the German, Dutch and Norwegian communities settled in the United States, one no longer recognizes the austere Bishop of Myra! He was known for his generosity and for discreetly helping the poor and unfortunate. Thomas Nast is the creator of the still-popular images of the Democratic Party represented by a donkey and the Republican Party represented by an elephant. A few years later, in December 1823, Clement Clark Moore, a professor at New Yorks Episcopalian seminary, published a poem intended for his own children called Twas the Night Before Christmas in The Sentinel, a New York state newspaper. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Thomas Nast This change is often mistakenly attributed to the work of Haddon Sundblom, who drew images of Santa in advertising for the Coca-Cola Company since 1931. ", September 5, 1868 Nast began to develop artistic skills in his youth and . Stream live games and stay informed with breaking news . His wife and children made cameo appearances, and their Morristown home often served as the backdrop. A child weeps after receiving a stick as a present, while a little girl lovingly cuddles a miniature of the bishop saint the way she would a doll. In 1862 he joined the staff of Harpers Weeklywhere he focused his efforts on political cartoons. His January 3, 1863 cover depicted Santa Claus handing out presents to Union soldiers. By telling the humorous story of the founding of New York, Washington Irving was the first to make the literary transition from Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus. In typical Nast fashion, the selection of toys and military-style bags from which they emerge carried political meanings that would have been understandable to Nasts original audience. Stay up to date with the latest content, educational resources, promotions and special news from our partners. From then until 1886, Nast contributed yearly illustrations of Santa to the magazineand in the process, did a great deal to cement many aspects of the Santa legend in the popular. Despite his important role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus, Nast was not the only artist to depict the figure during this time. The patron saint of children, among other things, St. Nicholas is also associated with generosity. 1881 illustration by Thomas Nast who, along with Clement Clarke Moores poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, helped to create the modern image of Santa Claus. How German Refugee Thomas Nast Invented How Santa Claus Looks Back During the Civil War. Although other artists of the period sketched Santa Claus, Nast stands apart from the rest for his role in creating and popularizing the modern image of the Christmas figure. The final piece of the puzzle was with the help of Coca-Cola. September 2, 1876 Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Who was the first person to draw Santa Claus? In this drawing, Santa is shown sitting in his workshop, surrounded by toys and children. He was dressed in a red suit with white fur and a black belt. Every December 24th millions of people are visited by a short, fat guy in a red suit. Who Drew Santa first? NTS is an online radio station based in London with studios in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Manchester. Womanhouse: An Iconic Feminist Installation by Miriam Schapiro and Judy Chicago, 11 Most Expensive Fine Art Photography Auction Results In The Last 10 Years, The Great Schism: How the Christian Churches Split, Who Were The Druids Of Roman Britain? His other Christmas illustrations showed children writing Santa letters, tracking his route, and even calling him on the telephone. Thomas Nast did not invent the American Christmas, but the German immigrant did develop the iconic image of its central celebratory figure, Santa Claus. He gained weight, grew a beard, wore fur and kept his peddlers bag on his shoulder: a right jolly old elf. Nast immortalized this transformation in his best portraits, sometimes depicting his own children and his Morristown family home in New Jersey. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', Except for the pipe-smoking, the smiling, bearded, ruddy cheeked, red suit wearing, portly old gent sporting a bundle of toys is pretty much the same figure appearing in the iconic Coca Cola ads that appear in the 1930s, some 50 years later. Because the common people so loved St. Nicholas, he survived on the European continent as people continued to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth. He was appointed consul general at Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 1902. What political cartoonist is responsible for Santa Claus? One of the most famous of Nasts Santa Claus illustrations is a drawing titled Merry Old Santa Claus that appeared in Harpers Weekly in 1881. This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Santa Claus distributes gifts to Union troops in Nasts first Santa Claus cartoon, (1863). Filled to the brim with inviting warmth and vivid detail, its really no wonder that Thomas Nasts Christmas illustrations have been so influential and enduring. Actually, the original Santa was rather slim, but cartoonists and commercial ads artists gave him a makeover. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; The Fourteenth Amendment, granting black men the right to vote, was ratified in July 1868. Heres how it works. Santa Claus and his reindeer fly across the top of the image and climb down the familys chimney on the left. For younger children, you could draw the design for them and allow them to colour in the Santa drawing themselves. Thomas Nast built upon this 19th-century persona when he began drawing Santa for Harpers Weekly. A husband and wife separated by the war (Nast, 1862). Unfortunately he contracted yellow fever in Ecuador and diedon December 7, 1902. Dressed in robes, with a crown of holly in his head, Father Christmas was a Dionysus-like figure who livened up some pretty wild Christmas parties. Abraham Lincoln called him our best recruiting sergeant. During Reconstruction, Nasts cartoons portrayed Pres. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Why did Nast draw Santa? Nicholas was a historic 4th-century Greek saint (from an area now in modern day Turkey) who had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes left out for him. But even after the war ended, Nast continued to use Santa Claus to make certain pointed political statements. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. In exchange, Sinterklaas promises to visit them every year on his airborne sleigh and slip down the chimneys of this newly founded city to deliver gifts to the children. In Germany, where the Reformation led by the monk Martin Luther banned saint worship, Nicholas was replaced by ChristKindl (Christ Child). It did so well that Coca-Cola continued to use Sundblom's Santa illustrations for decades, and his wholesome representation of Santa that is both realistic and symbolic can still be glimpsed in current ads. For this reason, Santa is still sometimes referred to as Saint Nick. She wrote a series of articles exposing the corruption of Standard Oil. January 24, 1863 The cartoon is lampooning the corruption of Boss Tweed in New York City politics. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. An American artist named Thomas Nast also played a part in creating Santa Claus. March 23, 1867 Centered around a picture of a happy black family at a hearth, the image depicts slaves' miserable past in scenes of auctions and physical abuse -- and a view of a future as equals to their former masters. In 1946, when Thomas was 6 years old, his mother, Appolonia, brought him and his sister to the United States, settling in New York City. Columbia's sympathetic gesture towards a wounded black soldier is a reply to a previous panel in which Southern landowners ask her forgiveness. Coca-Cola History In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harpers Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. } In the 1920s, the company began to run magazine ads aimed at reminding people that Coca-Cola wasn't just a summer drink . The name Santa Claus has his roots in the informal Dutch name for St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas (an abbreviation of Sint Nikolaas).St. In 1875, Louis Prang, the father of the American Christmas card, printed a series of postcards with a Santa Claus in a red costume. What time do the fireworks start at drayton manor? A December 1930 ad by artist Fred Mizen showed a department store Santa in a crowd drinking a bottle of Coke. The jovial version of St. Nick popular in the U.S. wasn . Who created the modern Santa Claus image? What impact did Thomas Nast have? What is the history of the image of Santa Claus? (Image by Alamy) Santa Claus, as drawn by Thomas Nast and, increasingly, by many others, became the standard bearer of the newly defined secular part of Christmas. By the 1870s, Nasts image of Santa had become the dominant one in American popular culture. Over the years, he portrayed Santa making toys, separating the naughty children from the nice, stealthily delivering presents, and more. In 1863, a drawing was made by the cartoonist Thomas Nast for the magazine Harper's Weekly. Moore, Irving, and other American admirers together originated Santas image as a chubby, elf-like creature chauffeured by a team of reindeer pulling his sleigh on Christmas Eve. Another Santa Claus forefather is the English figure, Father Christmas, also known as Sir Christmas. Unsurprisingly, the drawings from the Civil War often fell solidly in the realm of propaganda; Nast staunchly supported abolition, civil rights and the Republicans. Christmas Bonanza: Everything You Need To Know About Christmas, The Surprising Truth: Christians Once Banned Christmas, Can Tech Help Santa Deliver the Goods? Article published in the December 2015 issue of France-Amrique. He published his initial illustration of Santa Claus in his first year with the magazine. His cult began in Northern Europe at the time of the Crusades, particularly in Lorraine, of which he became the patron saint in the Middle Ages. This changed in 1863, when Harper's Weekly hired a 21-year-old named Thomas Nast to draw a picture of Santa Claus bringing gifts to troops fighting in the American Civil War. August 5, 1865 He has been especially popular in Holland, even after much of the country dropped Catholicism for Protestantism. In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. They had five children, Julia, Thomas, Jr., Edith, Mabel, and Cyril. [Got a question? He then studied for a time at the National Academy of Design and when he was about 15-years-old he started working as a draftsman for Leslies Illustrated Newspaper. The British tradition of Father Christmas, a jolly old man who brings gifts to children at Christmas time, also influenced the modern image of Santa Claus. On a Christmas cover of, The origin of the red color of Santa Claus outfit is a mystery. Thomas Nast drew this image of Jolly Old Santa Claus in 1881. Thomas Nast When he was about 13-years-old he dropped out of regular school and next year he studied art with Theodore Kaufmann. Nast first drew Santa Claus for the 1862 Christmas season Harpers Weekly cover and center-fold illustration to memorialize the family sacrifices of the Union during the early and, for the north, darkest days of the Civil War. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Nast, Spartacus Educational - Biography of Thomas Nast, Thomas Nast - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Thomas Nast: "This Is a White Man's Government", Thomas Nast: Boss Tweed and the Tweed ring. Nast didn't invent fat Santa out of whole cloth, though, and may have modeled his depiction after the titular character of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ("Twas the Night Before Christmas . 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