New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-08
MRS. AMESS BOSr OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

In corner of the "receptiOn-room" Of the
Union League Club House, the aoor waiting till 1t can
be set upon pedestal aud suitably displayed Is copy
in marble OF this work. the model which, miniature
size, we called attention to year ago. The or
ignal will be reeOlleeted. at the instance Of Mr.
Sumner purchased by Congress for the Capitol where 1t
will do something to redeem Art and Mr.. Lincoln
from reprOach. We hope that this copy will
be permitted TO do the same good ser
vice in NewYork. The service is needed for 1t has
seemed asif the genuine image Of Mr. Lincoln des
tined to be lost by excessive copying, like the famous
portrait Of Beatrice Genet which in our Op windows Is
the face OF dancing girl speak to the point,
like the majestic Of George Washington,
which In country paTlOrs suggests lory dropping
asleep after dinner The removes from the original like
of Mr. Lincoln have been rapid that in the
OF little time nothing seemed likely to be left OF him but
craggy bits OF natural featurea vast eyebrow
hanging laekluster eye, huge aud shapeess nose,
cadaverous cheek, corrugated forehead. and cheek
bones Of pTeteruatural dimensions In his case art
which should have made effort to conquer tho disp0
sOn to caricature, ran into 1t with most unbeeoming
speed Mt Lincoln was not handsome man bnt that
supplied for representing him so hideously
ugly to suggest the possible alliance Of man with the
ape. He was great historical figure, the greatest
since Washington; but that furnishes no excuse
for posing him Tke hero, giving con-
scious toss to his Ihead. or wrapping him round
with the flag He never wrapped himself round with the
the stage looks he conscious OF standing in
fne clothes with the banner staff in his hand, gazing
rapturousy into the heavens II to catch tile eye OF
the National bird, looking ptifuy down on negro
slave. He homey, but his LONELINESS was human
He the historical parsonage OF amost memorable
epoch, the agent of marvellous ProVi-
dence, the representative figure of momentous
crisis; but he filed the place assigned to
him without a gesture or o look that disclosed
sense Of the position he held He did not study the
scenic capacities Of the time, but its human significance
entirely; and that he interpreted through those strong
elements Of character which show their presence and
their working in the eOuntenance alone.
All that we want therefore, to recall Mr. Lincoln Is
worthy head him. private purposes this enough
And this more. but this Mrs. Ames has given, with
fathfuness Of appreciation that places her image apart
from every other 1t is the head OF the man,
as it was In its best truth. There Is ne
glOzing over of roughness no smoothing down OF
hardness trick OF pose posture to conceal unga
Illness. The features are all presented uncouth and
lumpy as made them. But as Nature made them'
too they are by the fantest shadow OF ahec
taton or sefconscious Importance. There no sirk or
shipper; knitting Of the brow; no desparlng gloom IN
the eye no grim construction of the mouth; no haggard
expression Of the man OF destiny and Of sorrows,
which Mr. Lincoln unquestiOnably, but which he
never thought OF calling himself believing himself
The absence OF sefconscousness OF sefassertiOn,
is it's characteristic, 1t his Characteristic The
general cast OF the face downward throwing up the
pcweru moral structure OF the head but the look one
Of thoughtiulness, not of depression, The mouth is
sweet the unsapey tells Of unbounded but rather
promscuous good natures the remarkable line and Life OF
the right eyebrow indicates the humorous quality OF the
man. the eye, If IL had color, would be gently, but not
gloomily, sad something else than care sits on
the high forehead sowing seeds Of trust In the
anxious burrows. The firm jaw. the sndden,
strong chin, the hard stubble of the beard, tell
OF the indomabe steadfastness the stubbonness some
call H. that lay like the granite rock beneath all this
play Of the human elements above. The face, as the
artist has modelled IT, is such study the man himself
was There was q good deal OF tho woman about MI.
Lincoln aud 1t is quite likely that woman OF womanly
stamp has been able detect traits OF character In him
that have escaped the eye Of At all events II she
has not discovered everything him. she has discovered
i'm him not only something more than other
artists have but something different and some
thing better; SO much better. IN fact that In
her work the repeatedly maryred victim appears Ike
one after many executions risen nom the dead 80 ex
celent is this bust grand features OF It's treatment
40 uo In ts Interpretation OF delicate properties, that
we pass by without criticism certain defects OF manpu'
lation that would DO blemlshes feebler head Inc
lack OF perfect mechanical and technical skill In the
artist becomes almost merit case like this, where
too much nccy would be spoil We do not know
whether the League is TO secure this bust for the Club
House, but It has been long worhler work Of art
was within ita walls At any rate we hope tho bust may
not be suffered TO leave New-Iork.