Daniel Webster

Copied Clark Mills, Daniel Webster, 1847, plaster, 29 1⁄4 x 20 1⁄2 x 12 1⁄8 in. (74.3 x 52.1 x 30.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Institute, XX16
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Daniel Webster
Artist
Date
1847
Location
Dimensions
29 1⁄4 x 20 1⁄2 x 12 1⁄8 in. (74.3 x 52.1 x 30.7 cm)
Credit Line
Transfer from the National Institute
Mediums
Mediums Description
plaster
Classifications
Keywords
  • Dress — historic — classical dress
  • Occupation — political — statesman
  • Portrait male — Webster, Daniel — bust
Object Number
XX16
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/XX16

Artwork Description

The strange language that you see in the quote above refers to the fashion during the nineteenth century for phrenology, in which the shape of a person’s skull was thought to reveal his or her character. Daniel Webster won fame as a lawyer during the 1820s and was venerated as one of the greatest public speakers of his time. He was a Massachusetts senator and a fierce supporter of the Union during the states’ rights controversy. Clark Mills created this life mask in 1847, when the politician was fifty-five years old. The stately pose and thoughtful expression of the figure reflect how he might have looked during an intense debate or public address.