Three monuments
1883
This 1883 satirical print by Friedrich Graetz, a prominent cartoonist for *Puck* magazine, contrasts the legacies of three Gilded Age figures through a striking visual allegory. On the left, 'Vanderbilt's Palace' is buried under money bags, popping champagne, and a vain peacock, mocking the selfish excess of the ultra-rich. In the center sits a lonely 'Stewart's Cathedral,' while on the right, the 'Cooper Institute' glows warmly with students and symbols of science and art. A central figure points toward the institute, celebrating Peter Cooper's educational philanthropy and reinforcing the message that true wealth is what you give away.
Views: 3