Fletcher Webster 1859

Winslow Homer's wood engraving "Fletcher Webster, Esq., of Boston" (1859), depicting Fletcher Webster, a prominent lawyer and son of the renowned statesman Daniel Webster, exemplifies the artist's early career focused on portraiture and illustration. The engraving, which appeared in *Ballou's Pictorial*, a popular 19th-century illustrated weekly magazine, portrays Fletcher Webster in a formal pose, emphasizing his importance as a figure in Boston society. The detailed rendering of Webster's clothing and facial features showcases Homer's skill in capturing likeness and conveying personality through subtle details. This work, with its realistic style and focus on prominent individuals, exemplifies the popular art forms of the mid-19th century.