File talk:Robert Walter Weir, Saint Nicholas.jpg
1838
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The date of this painting is definitely older than listed. The smithsonian has it as 1838:
It is also referenced in an 1838 issue of Parley's Magazine:
https://books.google.com/books?id=W6hHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA375#v=onepage&f=false
"There is a beautiful painting, done by Weir of New York, representing St. Nicholas going up Chimney after leaving his presents in the stockings"
Dspark76 (talk) 05:47, 3 January 2016 (UTC)
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Here is a reference from 1837, The New York Review
https://books.google.com/books?id=QewRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA445#v=onepage&q=weir&f=false
"He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook when he laugh'd like a bowl full of jelly He was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself - p 219
These lines have lately been illustrated by Weir's painting of St Nicholas where we have the very impersonation the second self of the jolly Saint with his happy Dutch visnomy full of broad enjoyment twinkling grey eyes expanded mouth and warm rubicund nose a more lumbering Dutch Puck or Robin Goodfellow just ascending the chimney after his humorsome labours while the scripture tiles round the fireplace and rich oak mantel throw a ruddy light on this worthy representative of the Russian Calendar"
