Often considered the finest depiction of the Senate, this engraving commemorates Henry Clay's farewell address to the Senate on March 31, 1842. Senator Clay appears in the left background. This scene never took place, but is the artist's interpretation of the event. To create this engraving, artist Thomas Doney collected more than 100 likenesses from mid-19th century daguerreotypists. He devoted more than four years to producing the work. While the composite depicts accurate portraits of each senator, the individuals represented were never in the room at the same time. Unfortunately, the original daguerreotypes, housed at the National Daguerreotype Miniature Gallery in New York City, were destroyed by fire in 1852.
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