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HomeVanity Fair: Men of the DayMen of the Day: The Vanity Fair Caricatures › "Washington" — Sir Michael Henry Herberg
"Washington" — Sir Michael Henry Herberg by Leslie Ward
Public domain · digitally restored by ComicBooks.com
Men of the Day: The Vanity Fair Caricatures

"Washington" — Sir Michael Henry Herberg

Leslie Ward · Leslie Ward ('Spy'), Vanity Fair, 15 January 1903

Signed 'Spy' at lower left, this chromolithograph is captioned "Washington" beneath the full-length figure — a Vanity Fair convention substituting a witty sobriquet for the subject's name. Ward depicts Herberg in immaculate morning dress: double-breasted frock coat, striped trousers, waistcoat with a watch-chain, and polished black shoes, hands tucked casually into his pockets. The profile pose — a Ward hallmark — flatters the subject's upright bearing while gently exaggerating his waxed moustache and slightly prominent nose. The nickname 'Washington' signals diplomatic or transatlantic distinction, consistent with Vanity Fair's habit of honouring establishment figures with allusive titles. The plate exemplifies Ward's mature style: restrained colour, confident line, and the air of a society portrait only lightly pricked by satire.

About this artifact

Creator
Leslie Ward
Date
Leslie Ward ('Spy'), Vanity Fair, 15 January 1903
Rights
Public domain — free to view, share, and reuse.
Restoration
Digitally restored and hosted by ComicBooks.com.

Part of our mission to preserve and restore the public-domain heritage of the medium.