Lincoln as Represented in the Arts
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George Grey Barnards sculpture of Abraham Lincoln which he crafted and dedicated in 1917 in Cincinnati, Ohio, is quite possibly the “ugly duckling” of all Lincoln sculptures. Robert Todd Lincoln expressed that the statue was not the way his father should be remembered. The positioning of the hands gives the appearance of Lincoln having a stomach ache. The statue of Lincoln is wearing shoes while Lincoln, in real life, always wore boots. Simply put, it is absolutely decrepit looking. This depiction can also be looked at in a positive light as well.
Abraham Lincoln always had a very strong work ethic, and his value of which is expressed in his letter to George D. Ramsay dated October 17, 1861. The letter in part reads, “The ladyЖbearer of thisЖsays she has two sons who want to work. Set them at it, if possible. Wanting to work is so rare a merit, that it should be encouraged” (Cuomo & Holzer p.230). This sculpture by Barnard serves as an excellent depiction of the toll that life-long hard work and the determination to hold together a nation, took on the very soul of Lincoln. On the outside he looked weak and tired, but on the inside, his heart and spirit were strong. In all of the films viewed in class, one could see the toll that his hard life had taken on him. The hard work and initiative taken by Lincoln earned him many songs of praise, and he inspired others to work as hard as he did.
The song “Abraham the Great and General Grant his mate” was composed and sung by T. Brigham Bishop. One of the stanzas in the song says “Then let us work away, and care not what they say, for freedom in the south is plainly dawning: With Abraham the Great, and General Grant his mate, Theyll bring us all out right in the morning” (
Some sculptures of the President seem to depict that of a deity. Leonard Volk sculpted a bust of Lincoln in 1860, it was reproduced in plaster several times and one of them is on display in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This is a very interesting work and it harkens back to the age of neoclassical art. The work is neoclassical in that it does not depict Lincoln in the modern dress of his time period. Instead, Lincoln is depicted wearing a classical roman garb, much like a toga.
In the neoclassical period of art, it was disrespectful to depict great people wearing the actual clothing of the time period. Rather, they were made to be godly in appearance. The face of the bust is that of a young, vibrant, and beardless Lincoln. His hair is made to appear as though it was properly combed, even though his hair was actually disheveled because he always ran his fingers through his hair. Overall, the sculpture itself presents an image of utmost nobility.
Lincoln gave a speech on October 1, 1858 which accurately demonstrates the nobility and godliness depicted from Volks bust. The speech is entitled “Give To Him That Is Needy”. Lincoln was quoted as saying, “Ðis it not the exact reverse of justice that the white should, for that reason take from the negro, any part of the little which has been given to him? ÐGive to him that is needy is the Christian rule of charity; but ÐTake from him that is needy is the rule of slavery” (Cuomo & Holzer p.131).
It was this aura of humanity and charity that radiated from Lincoln and inspired some sculptors. The Hunt Statue near the entrance to the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont, depicts Lincoln as the symbol of charity. A kneeling woman by his side symbolizes faith, and a child symbolizes hope. The work is entitled “The Spirit of America”.
Abraham Lincoln has become synonymous with “The Spirit of America” over the years. The 1939 film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” shows a young appointed Senator becoming inspired to do great things, just by visiting the Lincoln Memorial. Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) gazes into Lincolns eyes (at the Lincoln Memorial) while strong patriotic music penetrates the very heart of the viewer. He then reads the quotes in the memorial, and listens to a little boy reading the Gettysburg Address to his grandfather. It is a very strong scene in which Lincoln speaks to all of us through the priceless time portal of his inscribed words, and how those words apply to modern day life.
The Lincoln Memorial is a place where many come to seek inspiration. The building itself was designed by Henry Bacon while the seated statue of Lincoln was sculpted by Daniel Chester French. The memorial was dedicated in 1922. This statue is very lifelike in appearance. Lincolns face is very stern and he appears to be worried about the state of the Union in which he is trying to preserve. The left side of his face is tenser, symbolizing his sternness and discipline. The right side of his face is more relaxed, symbolizing compassion. His hands correspond to his facial features.
Lincoln was a hard man but he was a disciplined man. He didnt have any animosity towards the south considering he was a southerner by birth. He was simply a man without prejudice. In the last Lincoln documentary viewed in class, there was a quote mentioned after Lincolns assassination. It was from a southerner eating breakfast with his family. Upon hearing the news of the assassination, he said “The south just lost their best friend”. The people in the south understood that Lincoln was not out to destroy them. They even knew that his ultimate goal was to preserve the Union.
In deserved thanks for Lincolns success in preserving the Union, many poems were written and published about him. One in particular was a poem of four stanzas written by Berton Bellis in 1919 entitled “Abraham Lincoln”. As stated earlier, Lincoln was a man without prejudice, and the poem sums up his goodness by describing him with a “true heavenly made heart”. The poem elaborates on his life of “bitter sorrow”, and the unlimited credit he deserves for what he contributed to the American people. He contributed the eternal gift of a preserved Union, and a free republic.
The last stanza of the poem is a prime example of how Lincoln is glorified in most poems written about him. The following excerpt is also an example of how Lincoln still speaks to us even today, through the words he used to express his great mind.
“His life is a lesson for the living,
Shows democracy is strength and