Chesterwood's Model For Iconic Abraham Lincoln Sculpture At The Lincoln Memorial Featured In New National Gallery Of Art Exhibition
Year Long Exhibition Celebrating Lincoln Bicentennial Spotlights Sculptor Daniel Chester French’s Masterpiece
Posted January 16, 2009 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
The six-foot high plaster final model of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial will be featured in the exhibition Designing the Lincoln Memorial: Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon, a year-long exhibition celebrating the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, beginning February 12, 2009. The model is on loan from Chesterwood, a National Trust Historic Site in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and country home and studio of the American sculptor Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). Also featured is the wooden model of the Lincoln Memorial by American architect, Henry Bacon (1866-1924).
"The final model of Abraham Lincoln at Chesterwood has the iconic presence of the 19 foot tall sculpture, but at a more intimate scale," said Chesterwood director, Donna Hassler. "We are honored to share Daniel Chester French's masterpiece with visitors to the National Gallery of Art's special exhibition."
The French and Bacon models will be accompanied by life-size photobanners of the final Lincoln sculpture and a watercolor of the East Elevation of the Lincoln Memorial by Jules Guerin (who executed the murals in the Memorial), as well as informative, illustrated text panels addressing the making of the statue and the Memorial, the careers of French and Bacon, and the role the Lincoln Memorial has played in American life.
"Daniel Chester French's image of Lincoln is instantly recognizable and profoundly moving," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "I encourage everyone to visit the National Gallery of Art's exhibit to see this extraordinary sculpture, which has only traveled from Chesterwood one other time. I also hope this exhibit will inspire visits to Chesterwood, a beautiful home in an inspiring setting, to discover more about this great artist."
The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. It is made possible by the generous support of Robert H. Smith. The National Gallery of Art is grateful to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and to Chesterwood for the loan of the Lincoln model. The Gallery is also grateful to the Fine Arts Program, Public Buildings Service, U.S. General Services Administration for the loan of the architectural model of the Lincoln Memorial. For additional information about the exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, visit http://www.nga.gov/lincoln.
The Lincoln Memorial Commission selected Henry Bacon as architect for the memorial and selected French on Bacon's recommendation. The two had collaborated on several projects for nearly 25 years, including the sculpture of Lincoln at the State Capitol in Lincoln, NE, and the graceful Samuel F. DuPont Memorial (1917-1921) fountain in the center of DuPont Circle, Washington, DC. Bacon designed the architectural setting for each.
French's sculpture of Lincoln began with a small clay study and subsequently created several plaster models, each time making subtle changes in the figure's pose or setting. He placed the President not in an ordinary 19th century seat, but in a ceremonial, classical chair comprised of fasces, a Roman symbol of unity, to convey Lincoln's transcendent importance. He paid special attention to the President's expressive hands, using casts of his own to achieve the correct placement of the fingers.
To calculate the optimum scale for the memorial statue, French and Bacon took photographic enlargements of the statue to the memorial while under construction, and determined the figure should be approximately 19 feet in height, the pedestal below it another eleven feet. French's longtime collaborator, the firm of Piccirilli Brothers, did the carving, taking a full year for French's design to be transferred to 28 massive marble blocks. French provided finishing strokes both in the carvers' studio in New York and after the statue was assembled at the memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Chesterwood is the country home, studio and gardens of Daniel Chester French in Stockbridge, MA. In the sculpture's place in the Studio at Chesterwood, there will be an enlarged photograph of French's model of Abraham Lincoln exhibited at the National Gallery of Art as well as other studies and statuettes of Lincoln from the collection created by the artist. A new self-guided tour Discover Lincoln at Chesterwood, will be available on May 1, 2009 as part of the bicentennial programming during the 2009 season. Chesterwood is open from May 1 to October 31, 10-5 daily. The schedule of events at Chesterwood for the 2009 season will be announced on February 12 at a community celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington, MA that is free and open to the public. The After School Birthday Party for Abraham Lincoln is from 3:30 – 5:30 pm and co-sponsored by Chesterwood, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Norman Rockwell Museum and State Representative Smitty Pignatelli. Activities include a high school essay contest, classroom projects by elementary students, art projects for children, readings and a monumental birthday cake. For more information contact Chesterwood at 413-298-3579 extension 215.
Chesterwood is a Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For further information about Chesterwood, visit www.chesterwood.org.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.
