Master at Arms, United States Navy, 1886, from the Military Series (N224) issued by Kinney Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph was produced in 1886 by the Kinney Tobacco Company. At first glance, we see a U.S. Navy Master at Arms in his formal, double-breasted blue uniform; but observe the arm patch, emblazoned with a heart. The heart, in the visual language of devotion, is a motif of considerable pedigree. Consider the Sacred Heart, often depicted radiating light and flames, a symbol of divine love that has coursed through centuries of religious art. In the Middle Ages, the heart was seen as the seat of emotions and understanding, influencing much art in Europe. The anatomical heart we now recognize first appeared in scientific and medical illustrations, and the heart of romantic love is just one modern interpretation. Here, the heart on the sleeve of the Master at Arms connects to a long lineage, a visual echo resonating through time. As a purveyor of order, he wears a heart on his sleeve, suggesting that even within strictures of naval discipline, the idea of humanity still beats.