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The County Election (after George Caleb Bingham)
185425 5/8 x 32 3/16 in. (65.1 x 81.8 cm)
George Caleb Bingham
United States (Augusta County, VA, 1811 - 1879, Kansas City, MO) Original artist
John Sartain
United States (London, England, 1808 - 1897, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Engraver
Object Type:
Print
Medium and Support:
Hand-colored line, stipple and mezzotint engraving
Credit Line:
Marion Stratton Gould Fund
Accession Number:
1991.73
Location: Not currently on view
This scene is a commentary on American elections as well as on a specific Election Day in 1850. On that day, in Saline County, Missouri, the artist George Caleb Bingham ran for a place in the State Legislature. E. D. Sappington, the candidate lifting his shiny top hat, was the winner. Sappington, with his workers, tried to buy votes with liquor, and because he was related to the judge and one of the clerks, the election’s outcome aroused suspicion. While Bingham did not contest the results, The County Election makes a powerful statement about his thoughts concerning the corrupt proceedings. The artist represents himself as the figure in the stovepipe hat seated on the courthouse steps, attended by a friendly dog and two men in white hats who pause to look over his shoulder.
John Sartain was a highly successful engraver and publisher. He is well-known for his mezzotints of paintings by some of America’s major artists, including Emanuel Leutze and Thomas Sully. His descendants continued to make important contributions to the world of 19th century American art.
[Gallery label text, October 2010]
John Sartain was a highly successful engraver and publisher. He is well-known for his mezzotints of paintings by some of America’s major artists, including Emanuel Leutze and Thomas Sully. His descendants continued to make important contributions to the world of 19th century American art.
[Gallery label text, October 2010]
Bibliography
See general reference to this print and the original painting in George R. Brooks' "George Caleb Bingham and 'The County Election'," in The Bulletin of the Missouri Historical Society, vol. XXI, no. 1, October 1964: pp. 36-43
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Additional Images
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Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:
- The Good Life: Rural Views of America Memorial Art Gallery 9/23/1994 - 11/27/1994
- If Elected I will Serve Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester 9/10/2004 - 11/21/2004
Bibliography
This object has the following bibliographic references:
- Article Title: George Caleb Bingham: the Making of "The County Election". Article Scope: Article and reproduction. American Art Review. Kansas City, MO: Kellaway Pub. Co., 1973-. Volume Number: XX, Issue Number: 1. Issue Date: February 2008. Page Number: 90-91
- Article Author: Rash, Nancy. Article Title: New Light on George Caleb Bingham & John Sartain. Article Scope: Article. The Print Collector's Newsletter. New York, NY: Print Collector's Newsletter Inc. Volume Number: XXV, Issue Number: 4. Issue Date: September-October 1994. Page Number: 135-137
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Ann Katharine Martinez. The Life and Career of John Sartain (1808-1897): a Nineteenth Century Philadelphia Printmaker: A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the George Washington University...May 4, 1986. Washington, DC: George Washington University, 1986.
Portfolio List
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Web Links
See links to web pages and lesson plans
The County Election
Describes the political and historical context of this painting and compares it with other works in the Gallery's collection.
George Caleb Bingham: The Making of The County Election
Saint Louis Art Museum website about the original painting from which MAG's print derives.
George Caleb Bingham: The County Election
Printable poster from the Saint Louis Art Museum, of the original Bingham painting from which MAG's print derives.