Henry Clay
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.85.57
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Henry Clay (1844)** by Nathaniel Currier captures one of America's most influential statesmen in a striking lithographic print, now housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's National Portrait Gallery collection. Currier, a pioneering lithographer (1813–1888), was renowned for producing affordable, hand-colored prints that brought current events and notable figures into American homes. This portrait exemplifies his style: bold lines, vibrant patriotic imagery, and mass appeal during a pivotal election year. Henry Clay, the Kentucky lawyer, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of State, ...