New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
PORTRAITS OF LINCOLN.
THE GROLIER CLUB MAKES THE FIRST
SPECIAL EXHIBITION OF EN-
GRAVED LIKENESSES


at the Grolier Club. No. 20 East Thirty second
St. is particularly well timed. coming as it does
at the season of the anniversary of the Presi-
dents death 1t is rather strange that in all the
time that has elapsed since the tragic event
which occurred thirty -four years ago yesterday
there has never been before. far can be
ascertained any special exhibition of the many
engraved portraits which exist of Lincoln. The
catalogue which describes the collection is also
the first attempt to make a systematic record OF
these engravings, and much labor has been
spent upon ii in the effort 10 trace out the ORR
gin and history of the various pictures Those
who have arranged the exhibition and the cata-
logue wish Il understood that they do not claim
anything like completeness for either, and they
bespeak for their work the consideration which
is due 20 all pioneer essays in new field of re-
search. II is hoped that the exhibition may
stimulate a general interest in the subject and
perhaps lead to the discovery of other portraits
of Lincoln at present unknown.
There are some hundred and sixty pictures in
the collection now being shown. chiefly en-
cravings including those on steel. wood and
stone. Besides these there several etchings.
some paintings Il oil and water-coor: bass-re-
liefs. life mask in bronze and group OF four
teen photographs. certain OF which have spe-
cial interest because most OF the known en-
graved portraits are based upon them. 1t is be-
cause OF this very fact-that a few photographs
formed the bases for nearly all the engravings-
that there is a notable lack OF variety among the
portraits Their historical and human interest
is much greater in the case of the majority Of
them than their artistic value.
Among the few exceptions to this the line
engravings by William f. Marshall and H. Gug-
Lar, - (,,,oIa
craving is said to be the largest portrait ever
made On steel. the engraved part of the plate
measuring 23 by 294 inches The inscription
upon it says that II as from a painting by j. H.
Littlefeld. who once law student in Lin
coins Office. but it Is understood that the por
trait is really from a photograph by Brady. the
arrangement Of the hair having been slightly
altered An etching by Paul Rajon and some
etchings and wood engravings by Thomas John
son also have claims to artistic consideration
The Rajon etching represents Lincoln clean
shaven ne appeared in most of his earlier
life 1t was only after his election TO the Presi-
dency that he wore a beard. A small wood en-
craving by Johnson is interesting because it is
said to be from the earliest known portrait Of
Lincoln. In it he appears almost clean shaver,
the side whiskers being short.
rather amusing incident is connected with
mezzotnt by Thomas Doney. It was based
upon photograph by Heser. Of Chicago. taken
In 1860 The photograph. however. was not
thought entirely satisfactory because the hair
was somewhat wild and unkempt. so Hesler
III de another picture in which the hair APP
peared sufficiently neat to please prim Eastern
patrons! An odd line-and-stipple engraving is
by n b Hall The portrait bust of Lincoln is
in an oval border in the lower right hand quar-
ter IF the plate and at the left is seated large
figure Of Diogenes He is resting his left hand,
holding 4 lantern. on the frame and looking
down at the portrait Of Lincoln. Below are the
lines.
Diogencs his lantern needs no more.
An honest man Is fOund--the search Is Ger.
A line engraving by A. H. Richie has the I'M
usual distinction Of being a picture of Lincoln /
"made over" from a portrait of some else. /
1t represents him at full length, standing, and
wearing the beard. His right hand grasps a
cloak which he wraps about him. and his left
hand rests upon a table On this table are
sheets inscribed Constitution Union" and
Proclamation of Freedom" and there are sew
eral volumes with the title 'Jefersons Works"
erased so as to be scarcely legible. The expa-
nation OF this latter circumstance is that the |
original plate was a portrait of Calhoun Lin
coins head being substituted afterward and the |
title 'Jeffersons Works" Obterated Another |
instance Of the kind is furnished by a
group engraving in TIE collection. This shows
Lincoln standing in the centre. with General
Scott Henry Clay. Daniel Webster and others !
around him. Lincolns left hand rests on a
sheet inscribed Constitution Of the United .
States Of America" which lies on a column I'M
der a bust Of Washington The plate for the !
engraving was made originally In 1SJ0-'51. TO /