Two versions of Lincoln
Above is my hometown version of Lincoln -- by George Gray Barnard (1863-1938) --- depicting him just as I want to remember him: as homely, homespun, awkward, confused but also . honest, simple, sincere, and noble.
And below is a version done by almost an exact contemporary, Charles Mulligan (1866-1916)-- who happens to be one of the founders of my art club, the Palette and Chisel.
So my loyalties here are divided -- but the more I compare the two -- the more the Chicago Lincoln seems more like just another windbag politician -- a corrupted characature of leadership, rather than the real thing. And why is he delivering his oration to all those dead soldiers ?
I think that Mulligan, born in Ireland, just didn't get it - i.e. he wasn't thinking like an American.. yet.
But I like some of the details
And especially these views from the back -- which have nothing in particular to do with Lincoln.
... and neither does this portrait.. have anything to do with that head that seemed to offer such a good opportunity to show strong character.
The more I think about the hollow gestures shown above -- the more I'm suspecting a deep sense of cynicism in the sculptor.
And what better place for a monument to sleazy politicans -- than a graveyard ?
posted by chris miller at 9:18 PM
1 Comments:
Americans are immersed in Lincolnosity -- he's on our pennies, for God's sake, which, though a unit of currency that is worthless to adults, is utterly fascinating to children -- and the main thing about this image -- and most images -- is that the man is awkward and ugly -- perfectly fitting the gospel admonition that the "last shall be first"
Barnard (the sculptor of the first Lincoln that I showed) took these qualities farther than anyone else -- quite consciously, I think, turning him into something like a hermit-suffering- saint (Barnard was a big collector of medieval sculpture)
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