Artwork
Caricature of King Victor Emmanuel II
Caricature of King Victor Emmanuel II is an oil painting by the Realist artist Thomas Nast. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Thomas Nast’s 1866 oil on canvas, titled Caricature of King Victor Emmanuel II, presents a satirical portrait of the Italian monarch. The work is part of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection, where it is displayed among other 19th‑century political illustrations.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy, rendered in exaggerated features typical of caricature. Nast’s intent was to comment on the ruler’s public image, employing humor to critique contemporary political developments.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the piece combines the fluidity of traditional painting with the bold line work associated with editorial illustration. Nast’s use of contrast and simplified forms emphasizes the exaggerated facial characteristics, aligning the work with mid‑19th‑century political satire.
History & Provenance
Created in 1866, the painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s original studio, with no recorded intermediate owners before the museum’s purchase.
Context
The work emerged during a period of intense European nation‑building, when Victor Emmanuel II’s reign symbolized Italian unification. In the United States, Nast was renowned for his political cartoons, and this piece reflects his transatlantic engagement with European affairs.
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