Daniel Webster
During the course of his long career Ball modeled several portraits of the influential statesman, Daniel Webster (1782-1852). In 1853 the sculptor sold the reproduction rights for this statuette to a Boston art dealer, George Ward Nichols for $500. Nichols alone was responsible for decisions regarding appearance, marketing, and the number of casts. He produced numerous replicas in plaster and Parian ware, in addition to casting more than 200 bronze statuettes at Ames Manufacturing Company in Chicopee, Massachusetts. They were offered for sale with variations: with or without drapery over the column or with a “fine” or “ordinary” patina.
Artwork Details
- Title: Daniel Webster
- Artist: Thomas Ball (American, Charlestown, Massachusetts 1819–1911 Montclair, New Jersey)
- Founder: Cast by Ames Manufacturing Company (American, Chicopee, Massachusetts, 1834–1935)
- Date: 1853
- Culture: American
- Medium: Bronze
- Dimensions: 29 3/4 x 14 x 11 in. (75.6 x 35.6 x 27.9 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Thomas Kensett, by exchange, 1969
- Object Number: 69.219.2
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.