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Parable of the Sticks

Felix Octavius Carr Darley (American, 1822-1888) (Artist)
ca. 1855
wash drawing

The subject matter of this drawing is taken from Aesop's Fables and demonstrates the moral that there is strength in unity: the bundle of sticks cannot be broken when they are tied together, they can only be broken when they are taken one at a time.

Darley was primarily known as an illustrator in the 19th century. He worked for "Harper's Monthly" and illustrated the works of numerous famous authors of the day, including Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Washington Irving and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Inscription

[Signature] Lower right: Darley

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

William T. Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1894, by inheritance; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

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Geographies

USA (Place of Origin)

Measurements

H: 4 1/2 x W: 6 13/16 in. (11.5 x 17.3 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by William T. Walters

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

37.1572

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Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

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