Daniel Webster

Metadata

Title

Daniel Webster

Creator

Thomas Ball

Date

1853

Description

Standing figure of Daniel Webster, facing forward with head turned slightly to left. High prominent forehead, deep set eyes and stern mouth. Subject is depicted wearing a tail coat, with his right hand tucked into his coat above his waist. A draped architectural element is depicted to the right of the subject along with two books; the drapery over the architectural element continues around the rear of the base behind the figure. Incised on back of base: T Ball Sculpt / Boston Mass / 1853.

Daniel Webster (1782- 1852), American Statesman, was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire. Aspiring to but never attaining the Presidency of the United States, Webster's political career included terms as a Congressman, Senator, and Secretary of State. His eloquence as a speaker and writer, however, earned him the widest renown.

This statuette is a replica of a figure modelled by Thomas Ball (1819-1911), son of a Charlestown, Massachusetts, house and sign painter. Art dealer C.W. Nichols obtained the copyright to reproduce this popular statuette, making it one of the earliest examples of mass-produced American sculpture.

Extent

29.75" H

Medium

Bronze

Provenance

Athenaeum purchase

Collection

General Collection, Museum Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Identifier

1973.21.01

Rights

http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html