Fletcher Webster, Esq., Surveyor of Boston

Fletcher Webster, Esq., Surveyor of Boston is a characteristic wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1859. This early piece was produced during Homer’s formative period working as a commercial illustrator, primarily utilizing the scalable technology of the wood engraving print for mass-market consumption. Before gaining recognition for his later paintings, Homer was a skilled graphic artist whose work appeared frequently in illustrated periodicals across the United States.

The subject of the portrait is Fletcher Webster, Esq., the son of the famous statesman Daniel Webster and a key official serving as the Surveyor of the Port of Boston. Such portraits were vital components of the burgeoning illustrated press, providing the contemporary American public with visual documentation of important civic and governmental figures. Homer captures Webster with a sharp, journalistic clarity, demonstrating the intricate detail achievable through precise manipulation of the wood block.

The medium itself highlights the cultural context of the mid-nineteenth century, where illustrations had to be durable enough for rapid printing and distribution. This classification as a print underscores its original function as reportage and popular dissemination, rather than fine art. This historical example of American graphic art is maintained today within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As works of this nature age and their copyrights expire, historical prints by masters like Homer often transition into the public domain, allowing wide access for scholarly study and art appreciation.