Object Details
Cast after
Leonard Wells Volk, 1828 - 1895
Sitter
Abraham Lincoln, 12 Feb 1809 - 15 Apr 1865
Exhibition Label
Born Hardin County, Kentucky
Leonard Wells Volk made this life mask of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, before Lincoln began his run for the
presidency. Volk had wanted to create a bust of him to add to his collection of American statesmen, but Lincoln did not have time to pose. Poet and editor Richard Watson Gilder, who owned a bronze version of the work, wrote after Lincoln’s assassination, “This bronze doth keep the very form and mold / Of our great martyr’s face. Yes, this is he: / That brow all wisdom and benignity . . . .”
Nacido en el condado de Hardin, Kentucky
Leonard Wells Volk tomó este molde de la cara de Lincoln en 1860, antes de que este se postulara para
la presidencia. Volk quería crear un busto de él para añadirlo a su colección de estadistas estadounidenses, pero Lincoln no tenía tiempo para posar. El poeta y editor Richard Watson Gilder, quien poseía una version de la obra en bronce, escribió después del asesinato de
Lincoln: “Este bronce en verdad conserva las formas del rostro de nuestro gran mártir. Sí, es él: esa frente que es toda sabiduría y bondad . . .”.
Provenance
National Museum of American History (now National Museum of American History); transferred to NPG 1971
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; transfer from the National Museum of American History
Date
1860 (cast 1917)
Object number
NPG.71.24
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Plaster
Dimensions
14.6 x 21.6 x 23.5cm (5 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 9 1/4")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
America's Presidents - Current
On View
NPG, West Gallery 240
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Mask\Life mask
Abraham Lincoln: Male
Abraham Lincoln: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Abraham Lincoln: Military and Intelligence\Soldier
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
Abraham Lincoln: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Environmentalist
Abraham Lincoln: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Illinois
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\Surveyor
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\State Senator\Illinois
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\Postmaster
Abraham Lincoln: Business and Finance\Tradesman\Boat builder
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.71.24