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Volck, Adalbert John (1828-1912) Offering of bells to be cast into cannon

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00493.19 Author/Creator: Volck, Adalbert John (1828-1912) Place Written: s.l. Type: Print Date: circa 1880-1890 Pagination: 1 etching : b&w ; 26.1 x 34.6 cm. Order a Copy

Depicts a pastor and members of his congregation presenting church bells to be used to create weapons of war. The officer who accepts the bells removes his hat in recognition of the reverence of the occasion. Slaves perform the work of lifting the bells and other materials. The slave to the left of the center of the sketch, with his long apron and muscular arms, has also doffed his hat. Among the other items that have been donated appear to be candlesticks and andirons. This is one of the few sketches to which Volck put his own initials "AJV" in the lower left corner. The intials "EBM" also appear above Volck's intials. Size in extent is for the mount. The actual size of the etching is 20.3 x 26.6 cm. Title in pencil on verso.

Adalbert John Volck was a dentist, political cartoonist, and a caricaturist who sympathized with the Southern cause. During the Civil War, Volck supported the Confederacy through his satirical political cartoons. He also smuggled drugs and medical supplies for the Confederate army, and served as a personal courier to President Jefferson Davis.

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