United States Senate Chamber

Object Details

Artist

Robert Whitechurch, 1814 - c. 1880

Copy after

Peter Frederick Rothermel, 1817? - 1895

Victor Piard, active c. 1840 - c. 1870

Sitter

Henry Clay, 12 Apr 1777 - 29 Jun 1852

Exhibition Label

As a member of the U.S. Senate, Henry Clay (1777–1852) had always stood ready to use his substantial influence to make peace whenever issues threatened to divide North and South. His efforts on those occasions had generally been successful. In 1850, however, as the quarrel between the two regions over the westward extension of slavery reached an impasse, Clay seemed too old and frail to stem the crisis. Nevertheless, on February 5, he walked haltingly into the Senate and for two days defended his compromise proposals for achieving sectional peace. Although his measures would not pass through Congress for several months, Clay had again succeeded in disarming the forces of disunion.

El senador estadounidense Henry Clay (1777–1852) siempre estuvo dispuesto a ejercer su considerable influencia conciliadora ante diferencias que amenazaran con dividir el norte y el sur del país. Por lo general, sus esfuerzos habían tenido éxito. Sin embargo, en 1850, a medida que la lucha entre las dos regiones por la expansión de la esclavitud hacia el oeste se acercaba a un impasse, ya Clay parecía demasiado viejo y frágil para poder detener la crisis. No obstante, el 5 de febrero entró al Senado con su andar vacilante y durante dos días defendió su propuesta de acuerdos para lograr la paz entre los sectores. Sus medidas no pasarían el cedazo del Congreso hasta varios meses después, pero una vez más Clay logró vencer las fuerzas de la desunión.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mrs. Richard K. Doud

1855

Object number

NPG.77.11

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Print

Medium

Engraving on paper

Dimensions

Image: 65.8 x 86.8cm (25 7/8 x 34 3/16")

Sheet: 79.9 x 96.2cm (31 7/16 x 37 7/8")

Mat: 90.2 x 102.6cm (35 1/2 x 40 3/8")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair

Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie

Home Furnishings\Lighting Devices\Chandelier

Architecture\Column

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table\Writing table

Nature & Environment\Animal\Bird\Eagle

Interior\Legislative chamber

Henry Clay: Male

Henry Clay: Law and Crime\Lawyer

Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate

Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Speaker of the House

Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\Secretary of State

Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Kentucky

Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Government official\State Legislator\Kentucky

Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Government official\US Senator\Kentucky

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.77.11

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4e1473b26-75df-4f69-82c8-39ab04c0cf9e