Edward Williams Clay (American, 1799-1857)
Portrait painter, caricaturist, engraver,
lithographer, and etcher, Edward Williams Clay
was born in Philadelphia in 1799. He began
studying law and around 1825 he was admitted
to the Philadelphia Bar. He soon left law for
painting and became well known for his biting
caricatures in Philadelphia. Clay was famous for
his social commentaries on the consequences of
the abolition of slavery in early Philadelphia prior
to the beginning of the AMerican Civil War. He
left Philadelphia for New York City in 1837 and
shortly after went to Europe for further art study.
He later gave up his artistic career when his
eyesight failed. In his last years he held minor
public office in Delaware. He died in New York
City in 1857.
- (DK.157)
|
