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
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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
- Subjects
- Portrait male — Webster, Daniel — bust
- Occupation — political — statesman
- Dress — historic — classical dress
- Object Number
- 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.
