|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Go to page of Presidential portraits
This full length portrait was issued during the 1844 presidential campaign, which was Henry Clay's (1777-1852) third and last time to be nominated by the Whigs. Fractious debates over the annexation of Texas and Oregon, as well as the policies on slavery had torn the Whig party to pieces, and the election was lost to James K. Polk (1795-1849). Little is known about James Wise (fl. 1843-1860) who worked as a portrait and miniature painter in New Orleans in 1843 and Charleston, S.C. in 1844-5. He also worked in Virginia and St. Joseph, Missouri, according to Croce and Wallace. John Sartain (1808-1897) also engraved a portrait of John C. Calhoun after this artist. Here is classic portraiture conveyed through the elegance that was so well expressed through mezzotint engraving. In a handsome suit, backed by solid pillars and surrounded by books, writing materials, and a terrestrial globe, "The Great Pacificator" stands in the pose of an ancient orator. $650
A. Newsam after John Neagle. "Henry Clay (From Neagle's original painting)." Philadelphia: C.W. Bender, 1844. Copyright by John Neagle. Vignette, ca. 11 x 9 1/2. Lithographed by P.S. Duval. Excellent condition.
Another excellent portrait of Henry Clay issued during Clay's run for the Presidency in 1844. The lithograph was drawn by A. Newsam, who based the image on a life portrait of Clay painted by John Neagle at Ashland at the request of the Philadelphia Whigs. As attested below the title, Newsam worked under Neagle direct supervision and indeed is was Neagle who held the copyright. Newsam was one of the leading lithographers of the period and Duval produced some of the finest American lithographs of the nineteenth century. This lithograph is testimony to the skill of the painter, lithographer and printer. $525
Chester Harding. "Daniel Webster." Ca. 1850. Engraving by Joseph Andrews and Hezekiah Wright Smith. 25 x 17 1/4. Very good impression and condition.
A superb mezzotint of Webster from a painting (now in the Boston Athenæeum) by Chester Harding (1792-1886). Beginning his career on the American frontier as an itinerant portrait painter, Harding went on to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Design, work in St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and London, before ending up to a successful career in Boston. Harding produced paintings of many of the important figures of the mid-nineteenth century, including a number of Webster, of which this is considered one of the best ever done of this great American statesman. Webster, who served as Secretary of State and in the Senate for many years, was perhaps the great orator of the mid-nineteenth century. $850
John W. Dodge. "Henry Clay." [New York: J.W. Dodge, 1843.] Republished by R. Lewis & A. Harris, New York, 1852. 19 1/2 x 15. Engraving on steel by H.S. Sadd. Printed by Coates & Cosine. Full margins. Very good condition.
A striking, full length portrait of a middle-aged Clay sitting in the country near his home, Ashland. Clay sits on a mound with a dog at his feet, and Ashland is just visible in the distance. The house is also shown in a nicely engraved vignette remarque below the main image. This print is typical of the high-quality American portraits of the middle of the nineteenth century, with excellent engraving and impressive size. The print was first issued in 1843, in part to help the political career of Clay, who was gearing up for his Presidential bid of 1844. When Clay died, in 1852, there was a renewed interest in this great American, so R. Lewis and A. Harris, New York publishers, decided to reissue the engraving. Clay is shown in the middle of his career, as an educated man but one close to his Kentucky countryside. This handsome portrait would have graced many homes of his fellow citizens. $750
Lafosse after Brady's daguerreotype. "Henry Clay." New York: William Schaus, 1861. 24 7/8 x 19 1/2. Lithograph by Lafosse. Printed by Delarue, Paris. Full margins. Very good condition.
A rare, very large portrait of Clay. Published by William Schaus, who had started working for Goupil & Co, but then set up on his own in New York City. Many of his prints, like this one, were produced in France, for the quality of these prints was generally higher than American prints of the day. The image is based on a photograph by Brady, and it is beautifully drawn onto the lithographic stone by Lafosse. The print is a bust portrait of a young Clay, and the scale is unlike most other portraits of the nineteenth century. A most usual and rare print. $475
Brown's Portrait Gallery. A folio series of all 27 profile portraits of American politicians. Originally lithographed in 1844 by E.B. and E.C. Kellogg in Hartford, Connecticut, this facsimile edition was published in 1931 and limited to 600 copies. $1,500
Popular Prints of the Presidents
During the nineteenth century, lithographic publishers such as Currier & Ives, from New York and the Kellogg firm, from Hartford, and many others elsewhere, issued thousands of images in separately issued prints. These prints were intended as frameable art for the American people. Among the more popular subjects for these prints were portraits of the Presidents, appropriate subjects to grace one's home or office. This type of popular portrait began, however, earlier in 1828 when the Pendleton lithographic company of Boston issued a series of portraits, of the first five Presidents, for taken from paintings by Gilbert Stuart done for John Doggett. This set, called the "American Kings," was the first uniform group of popular prints of all the Presidents. The prints were very popular and created a strong market for small folio lithographs of the Presidents. This market was answered over the next decades by a number of other lithographic publishers. These portraits, of current and past Presidents, would have graced many American homes
For more information call, write, fax or e-mail to:
©The Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd. Last updated December 4, 2009
Place Order 
