Thomas Nast’s classic version of Santa Claus, drawn in 1881 for Harper's Weekly. In September 1897, a letter arrived in the newsroom of The Sun, one of New York's great newspapers of the day.

One of the most influential figures in shaping the modern image of Santa was Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist who drew pictures of Santa for Harper's Weekly in the 1860s and 1870s ...

Today, both towns attract the saint’s devotees. In 1866, Nast’s cartoon Santa Claus and His Works featured the words “Santaclaussville, N.P.” alongside Santa performing the tasks people ...

ideas that would become central to the modern portrayal of Santa Claus. In the 1860s, cartoonist Thomas Nast played a key role in solidifying Santa’s appearance through his illustrations for ...

This hand-colored version of a Thomas Nast illustration from 1881 is a formative early portrait that shows Santa Claus as he is pictured today. - North Wind Picture Archives/Alamy Stock Photo Coca ...

His family was wealthy, and he took his inheritance and gave to less fortunate and lived a life of humility. He died on Dec. 6, 346 A.D., which for many European nations has become Saint Nicholas Day, ...

Santa Claus, the iconic figure who brings holiday ... In 1870, American cartoonist Thomas Nast famously drew Santa in red for Harper's Weekly, incorporating key elements such as the fur-lined ...

This hand-colored version of a Thomas Nast illustration from 1881 is a formative early portrait that shows Santa Claus as he is pictured today. - North Wind Picture Archives/Alamy Stock Photo ...