Second version, won by James D’Arcy at the Western Art Union prize-draw, Cincinnati, 1851

The Western Art Union prize-draw took place in January 1851 amidst much publicity. To the disappointment of Cincinnati residents, The Greek Slave was won by a New Orleans subscriber, James D’Arcy—a hatter and, curiously, a brother-in-law of the previous owner, James Robb. Following the prize-draw there was considerable press interest in D’Arcy’s future plans for the statue. P. T. Barnum was rumored to be interested in acquiring it, and D’Arcy was said to have plans for an exhibition. In a published satire on D’Arcy, he was said to have laid claim to a female slave of “fair complexion” under the Fugitive Slave Act, a statement conflating his acquisition of The Greek Slave with that of a living woman labeled an “octoroon”. The story was picked up by other papers and taken as true.