Mr. Lincoln. Residence and Horse by Louis Kurz and Charles Shober

Description:

This commemorative black and white print from 1865 was created in the period of high public demand for Lincoln images after his assassination, during which many Northerners felt a desire to display a representation of the man they believed to be the savior of the nation. The print depicts Lincoln on horseback in front of his Springfield, Illinois, after returning home against his successful campaign against the Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Stephen Douglas. It employs the popular image of Lincoln at home to portray him as both a family man and an approachable representative of the people. Although he would have been clean shaven at this time, the printmakers included Abe’s later, characteristic beard.

Lincoln lived in this two-story twelve-room home from 1844 to 1861. On February 6, 1861, about 700 friends, neighbors, and well-wishers came to his residence to bid him farewell before he left for Washington. Lincoln departed Springfield on February 11, 1861, for his inauguration, but would never return to this home alive. His oldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, donated the family home to the state of Illinois in 1887 and it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

The creator of the print, Charles Shober, was born in Germany in 1831. In 1854, he immigrated to Philadelphia, where he worked as a lithographer. He partnered with Charles Reen in 1857, and by 1859, the firm of Reen & Shober relocated to Chicago. There, Shober began operating his own firm, Charles Shober & Co., until the fire of 1871, when he took over the Chicago Lithographing Company. He left this company in 1876 to partner with Edward Carqueville. Shober & Carqueville printed sheet music, posters, maps, and trade cards until Shober left in the early 1880s, after a fire at the firm. This print was copyrighted by Alfred Storey & Company.

Date Made: 1865

Depicted: Lincoln, AbrahamGraphic Artist: Kurz, LouisLithographer: Shober, Charles

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Illinois, Chicago

Depicted: HorsesHorseback RidingSubject: Architecture, Historic ResidencesCommunication, newspapersChronology: 1860-1869Depicted: BlacksHorseback RidingRelated Event: Civil War

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life, NMAH Reception Suite, American Civil War Prints, Art, Peters Prints, Domestic Furnishings

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: DL.60.2584Catalog Number: 60.2584Accession Number: 228146

Object Name: LithographObject Type: Lithograph

Physical Description: paper (overall material)ink (overall material)Measurements: image: 15 1/2 in x 20 1/2 in; 39.37 cm x 52.07 cmoverall: 18 in x 22 in; 45.72 cm x 55.88 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b5-1708-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_324896

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