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Abraham Lincoln: 1865-Dated From-Life Sketch with Artist's Letter....
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Sold on Feb 12, 2022 for:
$7,500.00
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Description
Abraham Lincoln: 1865-Dated From-Life Sketch with Artist's Letter. 3.875" x 6.375" pencil sketch on paper of a seated Abraham Lincoln with legs crossed, wearing his trademark stovepipe hat, his valise on the floor and his hand resting on the table next to him. It is inscribed in the lower left corner "City Point Va. 27 March 1865." Teensy loss to upper left corner with paper remnants on the verso from previous mounting in an album. An included caption label indicates it was drawn by Pierre Morand, copied from a work by Albert Hunt, and sold as lot #373 by the Metropolitan Art Association on April 30, 1914, as Part IV of the Library of Major William H. Lambert. An 8" x 10.5" letter by Morand explains its origins. In full: "This sketch was not originally taken by myself, but elaborated from one drawn by Mr. Albert Hunt, an English newspaper correspondent who was frequently seen about Washington and Virginia during the Civil War. He was a sincere admirer of President Lincoln and drew several pictures of him and of other prominent characters in a hasty, unfinished way. The one I used for my own sketch struck me as much better than the rest. Mr. Lincoln's reclining attitudes, like those of Gen. Grant, were generally indicating a great need of rest or faculty for the enjoyment of it. His standing poses, too, suggested a similar disposition, and his habit of leaning against or upon some convenient object generally furnished some more graceful outlines than his erect pose."Lincoln traveled to General Grant's headquarters in City Point, Virginia on March 27, 1865 in order to discuss strategy to bring the war to an end. He met with Grant, Sherman, and Admiral Porter on the "River Queen" side-wheeler. Their meeting was immortalized in a painting by George P. A. Healy, done in 1868.
We can find no information regarding Albert Hunt or the artist Pierre Morand; however, it wasn't unusual for war correspondents to make sketches to supplement their submissions. Such men were ubiquitous on the battlefields and in-and-around Washington. We recall seeing a similar sketch of Lincoln at the Willard Hotel in Washington, leaning against a window sill, drawn in 1864. It, too, had a Morand-connection and was part of the Lambert Collection sold in 1914. Whether is was drawn by Morand or Hunt is unknown. Hans Bolling also made a pencil sketch of Lincoln based on a visit to Washington, D.C. in 1864. It is quite likely that Morand make this sketch in 1865 or shortly thereafter.
The sketch has some slight loss to the top left corner, and the back exhibits old residue at the edges. The note with the typed caption has some loss to both of the top corners. The handwritten note has light toning and foxing, with two horizontal fold lines present. Overall in excellent condition, these would display very well.
Auction Info
2022 February 12 - 13 Lincoln and His Times Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6251 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2022
12th-13th
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 340
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