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Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is a marble sculpture of the U.S. president Abraham Lincoln by Irish artist Lot Flannery. It stands in front of the former District of Columbia City Hall in Washington, D.C., and is recognized as the oldest commemorative monument to a U.S. president in the country. The statue was placed several blocks from Ford’s Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated, and Flannery was present nearby on the night of the event. Dedicated in 1868 on the third anniversary of Lincoln’s death, the ceremony included President Andrew Johnson and Generals Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Winfield Scott Hancock. The statue was removed and rededicated twice, in 1923 and again in 2009, and now rests on an octagonal base.

Abraham Lincoln marble statue on a stone pedestal in front of a classical courthouse building
The Abraham Lincoln statue stands at the base of the steps outside the historic courthouse.
May 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Abraham Lincoln statue on a stone pedestal in front of a classical courthouse building.
The Abraham Lincoln statue stands before the Old District Courthouse in Washington, D.C.
© · Public domain
Marble statue of Abraham Lincoln standing in a suit with one hand resting on a bundle of rods.
The Abraham Lincoln marble statue stands in Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C.
© · CC BY 2.0
Abraham Lincoln monument on a tall column in the middle of a street, with a small figure near its fenced base and buildings in the background.
The Abraham Lincoln monument stands on a tall column in a street scene with surrounding buildings and distant church spires.
© Unknown artistUnknown artist · Public domain
Marble bust of Abraham Lincoln in a double-breasted coat, facing slightly left.
A grainy black-and-white photograph of an Abraham Lincoln bust, shown from the chest up.
© Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Identification

TitleAbraham Lincoln
SubjectAbraham Lincoln, President of the United States
TypeMarble statue

Creator

ArtistLot Flannery
Artist nationalityIrish-American
ArchitectFrank G. Pierson

Discovery and provenance

Largest donation$1,800 from John T. Ford, raised through a benefit performance in Baltimore
Artist connection to subjectFlannery had met Lincoln and was present at Ford's Theatre on the night of the assassination
Original installation siteCity Hall, Washington, D.C., United States
Original placement contextInstalled several blocks from Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated
Total cost$25,000
FundingMostly donated by residents of Washington, with additional funds raised by the Lincoln Monument Association
Purpose of commissionTo show loyalty to the United States and honor the assassinated president Abraham Lincoln
Commissioned13 days after Lincoln's death in 1865

Physical characteristics

Current locationIn front of the old District of Columbia City Hall on Indiana Avenue NW, Judiciary Square, Washington, D.C., United States
Depicted poseLincoln standing, looking to his left
ClothingLong coat, bow tie, and waistcoat
GestureLeft hand resting on a fasces; right arm at his side; right hand partially open and pointing toward the ground
BaseTwo-tiered base with a rectangular upper section on a lower square foundation
Original pedestalAn 18-foot (5.5 m) marble column on a 6-foot (1.8 m) octagonal base
Current supportOctagonal granite base
Missing elementA sword or scroll that formerly hung at his right side

Materials

Sculpture materialMarble
Base materialGranite
Replacement hand materialNot specified

Technique

InscriptionsThe monument includes inscriptions, but their text is not provided

Iconography and meaning

Artist statementFlannery said he placed the statue high so that no assassin's hand could ever again strike Lincoln down

History and restoration

Dedication dateApril 15, 1868
Vandalism damageLincoln's fingers were broken several times and his right hand was replaced
Restoration before return in 2009The statue was restored and cleaned before being returned
Second rededication reasonAfter a three-year renovation of the old City Hall
Second rededication dateApril 15, 2009
Second relocationMoved again in 2006 during renovations of the old City Hall, now the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
First rededication reasonRestored after strong support from citizens and veterans
First rededication dateApril 15, 1923
Congressional authorizationAn Act of Congress on June 21, 1922 authorized a new dedication
Restoration before reinstallationThe statue was cleaned
RediscoveryFound in boxes behind the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Public reaction to storageMany citizens were upset; the Grand Army of the Republic demanded reinstatement, and President Warren G. Harding urged Congress on behalf of the public
Reinstallation controversySome residents and officials did not want it reinstalled because the Lincoln Memorial was under construction and the pedestal was considered unsafe
First removal and storageDismantled and stored in 1919 during City Hall renovations
Storage and rededication historyThe statue was removed and rededicated twice
Absent dignitariesThe Supreme Court justices and members of Congress were absent because Johnson's impeachment trial was underway
Dedication ceremonyIncluded a Masonic ceremony, music, prayers, a speech by Major General Benjamin Brown French, and unveiling by President Andrew Johnson after introduction by Mayor Richard Wallach
Dedication attendanceAbout 20,000 people, roughly 20% of Washington's population
Dedication attendeesPresident Andrew Johnson, General Ulysses S. Grant, General William Tecumseh Sherman, and General Winfield Scott Hancock
Dedication occasionThird anniversary of Lincoln's death

Significance

StatusOldest extant memorial to Abraham Lincoln in the United States
Related public statues in Washington, D.C.One of six public statues in Washington, D.C. honoring Abraham Lincoln
Uniqueness claimThe only statue of Lincoln made by someone who knew him
Political associationUnionist