Artwork
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster is a copper painting by the American Folk Art artist William Russell Birch. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, the work's primary function is to capture the likeness and presence of its subject, Daniel Webster, for posterity.
The artwork depicts Daniel Webster, a prominent American statesman, presented as a formal portrait. Created by William Russell Birch in 1833, the piece is an enamel on copper miniature measuring 2.7 inches in height and 2 inches in width. As a portrait, the work's primary function is to capture the likeness and presence of its subject, Daniel Webster, for posterity.
The classification within the American Wing highlights its significance as a representation of early American political figures. The work serves as a visual record of Webster's appearance during this period, embodying the genre conventions of portraiture intended to honor and memorialize notable individuals.
Technique & Style
The work titled Daniel Webster, painted by William Russell Birch in 1833, is executed in enamel on a copper support, a medium that yields a smooth, luminous surface characteristic of miniature portraiture of the period. The copper panel serves as the painting’s support, and the composition presents a three‑quarter view of the statesman rendered with fine detail and a restrained palette. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art records, the dimensions are roughly 2.7 by 2 (units), reinforcing the intimate scale typical of portrait miniatures. The stylistic approach combines realistic facial rendering with a decorative border typical of enamel work.
History & Provenance
The enamel-on-copper portrait Daniel Webster by William Russell Birch is dated 1833, aligning with Birch’s active period in early 19th-century American portraiture. The work entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed. Its creation coincides with Webster’s prominence as a statesman, suggesting a commission timed to capitalize on public interest in his likeness.
The Met’s records classify the piece as a portrait within its American Wing holdings, consistent with Birch’s documented genre and technique during this era.
William Russell Birch's 1833 enamel portrait of Daniel Webster is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified under The American Wing, where it is accessioned as a small-scale portrait measuring 2.7 inches in height and 2 inches in width. While the specific inventory or accession number is not detailed in the available records, the piece is definitively cataloged as part of the museum's holdings.
The sources do not provide a specific history of exhibitions for this particular enamel portrait, noting only its creation date and current institutional location. Consequently, the known history of the work is limited to its identification as a portrait of the statesman Daniel Webster and its permanent residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Daniel Webster, a prominent American statesman. Rendered in enamel on copper, the artwork measures only four inches in height, designed for intimate viewing rather than public display. Webster is shown seated formally, his gaze direct and his expression resolute, conveying a sense of his public persona within a private format.
Context
Created as a small, portable object, this portrait was intended for personal contemplation rather than exhibition on a wall. Its four-inch stature allowed it to be held in hand, akin to a cherished photograph of a celebrated individual. Such miniature works served as private reminders or tokens, offering an intimate connection to the depicted subject, particularly for figures of public renown like Webster.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Russell Birch (9 April 1755 – 7 August 1834) was an English miniature painter, enameler, and landscape engraver and designer.
