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Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Image:Santa Claus 1863 Harpers.jpg

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Original
Reason
Historic origin of a modern cultural icon
Proposed caption
One of the earliest depictions of the modern Santa Claus by Thomas Nast, which appeared on the cover of the January 3 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly. At this time, the image of Santa Claus had not yet merged with that of Father Christmas. This version was likely based on the Belsnickel ("Furry Nicholas"), a mythical being who visited naughty children in their sleep. The name originated from the fact that the person appeared to be a huge beast since he was covered from head to toe in fur. This image appeared as a small part of a larger illustration titled "A Christmas Furlough" in which Nast set aside his regular news and political coverage to do a Santa Claus drawing. This Santa was a man dressed up handing out gifts to Union Army soldiers.
Articles this image appears in
Santa Claus, Santa Claus in Northern American culture, Thomas Nast
Creator
Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly
  • The Harper's masthead contributes a significant portion of the encyclopedicity of this image. Why would you want it taken out? It's part of the image, and also part of the significance of the image. --Malachirality (talk) 20:11, 8 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Well, I believe that anything it does contribute to the drawing could be described (e.g. "This appeared on the front page of Harper's Weekly"), and it takes up space that could be better used by the drawing itself. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Oscar O Oscar (talkcontribs) 15:08, 9 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

(reset indent) Oh well. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree (I see the banner as an essential, uncroppable element of the image, akin to the "Time" title on a Time Man of the Year picture or the newspaper title on famous front pages). This might all be a moot point anyway, as no one else seems willing to vote on this nom. --Malachirality (talk) 19:55, 10 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Support, even without the crop. This is certainly encyclopedic and famous. A great example of 19th century drawing. Oscar (talk) 19:58, 10 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted Image:Santa Claus 1863 Harpers.png MER-C 05:05, 11 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]