Object Details
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- original artist
- Marchant, Edward Dalton
- graphic artist
- Sartain, John
- Description
- Late in 1862, the Union League of Philadelphia commissioned Edward Dalton Marchant to paint Lincoln's portrait for exhibition in Independence Hall as a gesture of support for the president and the Union. Marchant engaged Philadelphia artist John Sartain to engrave the portrait, and mezzotint prints were published by Bradley and Company in 1864 to meet popular demand for the image. The original painting is part of the Union League’s collection, and the Museum owns two copies of the mezzotint print, one an early proof and this one from the standard edition.
- The half-length portrait depicts Lincoln seated at a table, holding a quill. A document beneath his arm reads: “Abraham Lincoln, Jan’y 1st, 1863, Will. H. Seward.” It references the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on that date. Part of a large statue is shown at the upper right, a classical figure of Liberty with a broken chain at her feet, another reference to the emancipation of the slaves.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Robert L. and Wilma W. Bidwell
- 1864
- ID Number
- 1986.1013.01
- catalog number
- 1986.1013.01
- accession number
- 1986.1013
- Object Name
- Object Type
- Mezzotint
- Other Terms
- print; Mezzotint; Prints
- Physical Description
- paper (overall material)
- ink (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 43.5 cm x 34 cm; 17 1/8 in x 13 3/8 in
- image: 33 cm x 25.5 cm; 13 in x 10 1/16 in
- Related Publication
- Holzer, Harold; Boritt, Gabor S., and Neely, Mark E., Jr.. The Lincoln Image: Abraham Lincoln and the Popular Print
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
- Communications
- Abraham Lincoln
- Art
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Slavery
- Politics
- Record ID
- nmah_887913
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-2f3b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
