Dodge, John W. "Henry Clay"

John W. Dodge. "Henry Clay".

[New York: J.W. Dodge, 1843.] Republished by R. Lewis & A. Harris, New York, 1852. 19 1/2 x 15. Engraving on steel by H.S. Sadd. Printed by Coates & Cosine. Full margins. Very good condition. 

A striking, full length portrait of a middle-aged Clay sitting in the country near his home, Ashland. Clay sits on a mound with a dog at his feet, and Ashland is just visible in the distance. The house is also shown in a nicely engraved vignette remarque below the main image. This print is typical of the high-quality American portraits of the middle of the nineteenth century, with excellent engraving and impressive size. The print was first issued in 1843, in part to help the political career of Clay, who was gearing up for his Presidential bid of 1844. When Clay died, in 1852, there was a renewed interest in this great American, so R. Lewis and A. Harris, New York publishers, decided to reissue the engraving. Clay is shown in the middle of his career, as an educated man but one close to his Kentucky countryside. This handsome portrait would have graced many homes of his fellow citizens.