Object Record
Metadata
Object Name |
Portrait |
Title |
Henry Clay |
Catalog Number |
1982.18 |
Creator |
Frazer, Oliver |
Date |
ca. 1840 |
Material(s) |
Paint/Canvas |
Dimensions |
H-33 W-22 D-4 inches |
Description |
This painting is an oval, bust portrait of Henry Clay. Clay is depicted facing forward and has gray-brown hair and gray eyes. In this portrait Clay is wearing a black suit, black stock, and a white shirt, with only the collar visible. The background is mottled pink and gray-brown. The painting is framed in an oval frame with molded and applied gesso ornaments that include a leaf chain on the interior ring, fruit and leaf decorations molded and applied to a raised edge, and a scroll ribbon edge on the exterior rim. |
Notes |
Oliver Frazer is a Kentucky born artist known for portrait and miniature painting. Frazer was born in Lexington in 1808. He studied with Matthew Jouett, Thomas Sully in the United States then toured Europe, studying with George Peter Alexander Healy, Thomas Coture and Baron Antonine-Jean Gros. Most of Frazer's portraiture was created after 1838 and before 1850 when his eyesight began to fail. In addition to this portrait of Henry Clay, Frazer created another of Clay currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Frazer died on February 9, 1864, and is buried in the Lexington Cemetery. The Oliver Frazer family papers are held at the University of Kentucky Special Collections. |
Collection |
KHS Museum Collection |
People |
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 Frazer, Oliver |
Subjects |
Government officials Portrait paintings Portraits Senators Politics & government |
Search Terms |
Portrait Paintings Portrait Portraits |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |