Object Details
Artist
J. H. Bufford Lithography Company, active 1835 - 1890
Copy after
Christopher S. German, 25 Dec 1814 - 15 May 1896 (Photographer)
Publisher
Oliver Ditson & Co.
Sitter
Abraham Lincoln, 12 Feb 1809 - 15 Apr 1865
Exhibition Label
This lithograph accompanied the music for a “grand march” celebrating the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln in March 1861. The portrait is based on an earlier image that covered music for “The ‘Wigwam’ Grand March,” published shortly after Lincoln’s nomination as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in May 1860. It showed Lincoln without the beard he grew that autumn on the advice of an eleven-year-old admirer. The whiskers in this lithograph were added rather crudely to the preexisting image. Small vignettes show Lincoln splitting rails and a horseman carrying a banner reading “Our Candidate.”
Music played an important role during the ensuing civil war. Martial tunes rallied troops. Sentimental ballads expressed the yearning of separated loved ones. Spirituals promised freedom to the enslaved. Confederates found their theme song in “Dixie,” while the North embraced “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” with lyrics by Julia Ward Howe, whose portrait hangs nearby.
Esta litografía acompañó la partitura de una “gran marcha” para celebrar la investidura presidencial de Abraham Lincoln en marzo de 1861. Se basa en una imagen publicada con otra partitura, “La gran marcha ‘Wigwam’”, tras la nominación de Lincoln como candidato presidencial del Partido Republicano en mayo de 1860. En dicha imagen Lincoln no tenía barba; se la dejó crecer ese otoño a sugerencia de un pequeño admirador de 11 años. Las patillas que luce en esta litografía se añadieron luego toscamente. En las viñetas aparecen Lincoln cortando troncos y un jinete con un banderín que dice “Nuestro candidato”.
La música fue importante en la guerra civil que vendría. Las melodías marciales animaban a las tropas. Las baladas sentimentales expresaban la nostalgia de la separación. Los espirituales prometían libertad a los esclavizados. Los confederados encontraron su tema en “Dixie”, y los norteños adoptaron el “Himno de batalla de la República”, con letra de Julia Ward Howe, cuyo retrato se expone cerca.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
1860
Object number
NPG.84.81
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Print
Medium
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions
Image: 20.7 x 15.7cm (8 1/8 x 6 3/16")
Sheet: 42.5 x 25.3cm (16 3/4 x 9 15/16")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 111
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Home Furnishings\Drape
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Architecture\Column
Sheet music
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.84.81