The political legacy of Kentucky's Henry Clay was his unstinting devotion, in the House of Representatives and later in the Senate, to maintaining a strong American union. In 1842 a group of Philadelphia supporters commissioned John Neagle to paint a full-length portrait of Clay, who they expected would run as the Whig candidate for President in 1844. After painting this bust portrait, the artist completed the full-length, which was exhibited in Kentucky before it was brought to Philadelphia. Clay complimented Neagle: "I think you have happily delineated the character, as well as the physical appearance, of your subject." Clay did not win the 1844 election, however; the full-length portrait later became the property of the Union League of Philadelphia. A second version is at the United States Capitol.

John Neagle (1796–1865)
Oil on canvas, 1842
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
NPG.93.476

Enlarged image

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