In a period when American federalism faced increasing challenges from states’-rights supporters, Daniel Webster emerged as one of the Union’s most eloquent defenders. Having gained acclaim as a lawyer who argued some of the young republic’s pivotal Supreme Court cases, Webster became a major force in national politics through his service in the House and in the Senate. There, his brilliant orations on behalf of the indivisibility of the Union marked him as one of the greatest public figures of his generation. Despite his national stature, Webster fell short of mustering the broad support that might have won him the presidency.
Boston-based camera artists Southworth & Hawes daguerreotyped Daniel Webster on several occasions. This majestic portrait of the “parliamentary Hercules” is a vintage copy of an original daguerreotype, whose whereabouts is now unknown. To satisfy public demand for images of the celebrated statesman, Southworth & Hawes produced and marketed numerous copies of their Webster portraits in a variety of formats.
Nacido en Salisbury, New Hampshire
En tiempos en que el federalismo estadounidense afrontaba crecientes retos por parte de los que apoyaban los derechos de los gobiernos estatales, el abogado Daniel Webster se destacó como uno de los defensores más elocuentes de la Unión. Luego de ganarse el aplauso popular litigando ante el Tribunal Supremo en varios casos cruciales para la joven república, Webster pasó a ejercer una importante influencia sobre la política nacional como miembro de la Cámara de Representantes y del Senado. Allí, sus brillantes discursos a favor de la indivisibilidad de la Unión lo señalaron como una de las grandes figuras públicas de su generación. A pesar de su notoriedad, Webster no logró el amplio respaldo que podría haberle ganado la presidencia.
Southworth & Hawes, artistas de la cámara establecidos en Boston, tomaron varios daguerrotipos de Daniel Webster. Este majestuoso retrato del “Hércules parlamentario” es una copia antigua de un daguerrotipo original cuyo paradero se desconoce. Para satisfacer la demanda de imágenes del celebrado político, Southworth & Hawes produjeron y mercadearon numerosas copias de retratos de Webster en variedad de formatos.
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National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; conservation made possible by a grant from the Smithsonian's Collections Care and Preservation Fund
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Object number
NPG.76.93
Type
Photograph
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Medium
Whole-plate daguerreotype
Dimensions
Image/Sight: 20.2 × 15 cm (7 15/16 × 5 7/8")
Mat (brass): 24 × 18.9 cm (9 7/16 × 7 7/16")
Case open: 25.5 × 41 × 1 cm (10 1/16 × 16 1/8 × 3/8")
Case closed: 25.5 × 20.5 × 1.9 cm (10 1/16 × 8 1/16 × 3/4")
