The Procession 1879 - 1889

Felix Octavius Carr Darley created this pen and ink drawing entitled “The Procession” sometime in the mid-19th century in the United States. The image depicts a bustling scene of people in period clothing. The architecture in the background suggests a European village. The clothing of the figures in the foreground suggest wealth and status, while the crowd behind them are dressed more plainly. Darley was a prolific illustrator, known for his depictions of American life and history, but this seems to be a scene of colonial life, possibly set in the 17th or 18th century. He would have been familiar with European art and history through books and prints. The drawing offers an interesting glimpse into how American artists in the 19th century viewed the colonial past, and we might also think about its relationship to questions of social class. To understand this fully, we would need to research Darley’s other work and also the popular imagery of the period.