Title	Lincoln Modeled from Life
Owning Institution	Indiana Historical Society
Use Statement	This image may be printed or downloaded by individuals, schools or libraries for study, research or classroom teaching without permission. For other uses contact: mailto:visualcollections@indianahistory.org
Required Credit Line	Use must be accompanied with the attribution: Indiana Historical Society.
Item ID	P0406_741
Series	Statues/Busts/Plaques
Description	Life-size portrait bust of Abraham Lincoln rises from a rounded pedestal base. Lincoln is clean shaven and draped in cloth that has the appearance of a Roman toga or the cloak of a Greek god. Several coats of dark metallic paint were used to simulate a bronze patina over the plaster. Affixed to the neck of the pedestal with two small screws is a brass plate, engraved: "LINCOLN MODELED FROM LIFE PRESERVED BY THE HENNECKE STUDIOS MILWAUKEE WIS." On the reverse side--the tall side--of the pedestal is impressed in script: "Lincoln from Life by L.W. Volk." Overlapping green felt pad and rubberized pad adhered to bottom of base for stablilization.
Subject	Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Statues Busts Sculpture Politicians Presidents
Creator	Volk, Leonard Wells, 1828-1895
Date	[1860]
Publisher	Hennecke Studios, Milwaukee, WI
Notes	A native of New York, sculptor Leonard W. Volk (1828-1895) went to St. Louis at an early age, concentrating on relief work and sculpture, and was given funds by Stephen A. Douglas in 1855 to study in Rome. Eventually, Volk established himself in the Chicago area, where he became a leader in the art movement and founder of the Chicago Academy of Design. He made close studies of presidential candidates Douglas and Lincoln, executing a Douglas monument in Chicago. Volk made a cast of Lincoln's face and hands in 1860. He was also the first artist to create a bust of the newly elected president. The process was one which Lincoln found "anything but agreeable." The various busts and statues Volk eventually produced were a result of the life mask he made of Lincoln in his studio. The sculptor continued his career creating sculpture and statues of notable Americans, including additional works of Lincoln.
Format of Original	Statue
Digital Format	jpg
Collection Name	Jack Smith Lincoln Graphics Collection
Collection Number	P 0406 ; Artifact number R 2325
Original Filename	Volk, L.W. LINCOLN MODELED FROM LIFE. 741.tif
Copyright Notice	Digital image 2003 Indiana Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.
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Lincoln Modeled from Life

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