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United States Senate Chamber

United States Senate Chamber
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
Date
1855
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")
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\US Congressman\Speaker of the House
Henry Clay: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State
Henry Clay: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Kentucky
Henry Clay: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Kentucky
Henry Clay: Politics and Government\US Senator\Kentucky
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mrs. Richard K. Doud
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.77.11
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.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view