Life of Reverend T. De Witt Talmage, from the Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People series of booklets (N79) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have a curious piece – a colored pencil print from 1888, part of the "Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People" series. It's a portrait of Reverend T. De Witt Talmage, published by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It has such an uncanny softness to it. What do you see in this image? Curator: What do I see? Ah, it whispers stories of ambition, doesn't it? And subtle marketing, naturally. This small portrait speaks of that peculiar late 19th-century obsession with upward mobility. The very idea that a smoke could somehow connect you to greatness, a Reverend no less… comical! But the image itself, observe how the artist subtly imbued Talmage with this almost ethereal glow, as if piety itself shone from his countenance. Editor: It's fascinating how something so explicitly promotional could try for something "ethereal". What about his slightly mournful expression? Curator: Yes! It gives it an unexpected depth. Perhaps they meant to imply that even men of God carry a heavy burden. A clever way to lend authenticity to the subject, wouldn't you say? Or perhaps it was just a lucky capture. Who am I to ascribe intent? Editor: I hadn't considered the idea of it lending authenticity. Thinking about the wider context and the consumer-aimed creation of it shifts my view entirely. Curator: Art often pulls us in odd directions like that, doesn’t it? Makes one wonder if Talmage himself ever enjoyed a Duke cigarette. Editor: I learned to never underestimate the nuances of an advertisement. Thank you for that insightful perspective.