Description
This is an original 1840 printed Senate document leaf (page 311) from the 26th Congress, 1st Session, titled Memorial of Hiram Powers. In this historic appeal, American neoclassical sculptor Hiram Powers petitions the U.S. Senate to allow works of art produced by American artists abroad to be admitted into the United States without import duties. The document is dated March 24, 1840, and was officially laid on the table and ordered to be printed-preserving Powers’ formal appeal in the Congressional Record.
This rare page is a compelling artifact from a pivotal moment in American art history. Powers, then working in Italy, sought to influence U.S. policy on behalf of expatriate artists who faced financial barriers when importing their works. His advocacy foreshadows broader federal involvement in cultural and artistic support in the decades to follow.
*
Features Hiram Powers’ official petition to Congress, printed during his lifetime
*
Dated March 24, 1840, from the 26th U.S. Congress, 1st Session (Senate)
*
Early government consideration of American fine arts policy
*
Important document related to one of the most influential U.S. sculptors of the 19th century
*
Suitable for collectors of government documents, fine arts history, or early U.S. legislation
A scarce and historically significant page, offering insight into the early relationship between American artists and their government.
