Abraham Lincoln: The Head of State

Coordinates: 41°52′38.24″N 87°37′17.47″W / 41.8772889°N 87.6215194°W / 41.8772889; -87.6215194

Statue closeup

Wide view of exedra

Abraham Lincoln: The Head of State (also called Seated Lincoln) is a bronze statue in Grant Park, in Chicago. Created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and completed by his work shop in 1908, it was intended by the artist to to evoke the loneliness and burden of command felt by Lincoln during his presidency.^[1] The sculpture depicts a contemplative Lincoln seated in a chair, and gazing down into the distance. The statue's head was used for the commemorative postage stamp issued on the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.^[2] The sculpture is set upon a pedestal and a 150 foot wide exedra designed by architect Stanford White.^[3]

Although not as well known as Saint-Guadens' Standing Lincoln (in Lincoln Park), it does demonstrate the years of attention that the sculptor gave to capturing Lincoln in a most somber light. Prior to being installed in Grant Park in 1926, the sculpture was displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and at the San Francisco World's Fair in 1915.

The section of Grant Park, where this statue of Lincoln is located, was designated as the Court of Presidents in the plan for the park but, to date, this is the only such monument that has been erected.

References

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