Written and © by Jarno Tarkoma
Nast, Thomas
A newspaper artist who painted in 1870
the definitive first portrait of Santa Claus.

Thomas Nast (1840-1902) was America's best political newspaper cartoonist
drawing for Harper's Weekly. Once a year he made a special
picture for Harper's Christmas issue. These drawings were the basis for
his 1890 book "Christmas Drawings for the Human Race". And this book is
the foundation of our Santa Claus knowledge. He captured the round-bellied,
white-bearded Santa of Clement Moore in his drawings and
made him real and living.