The Lincoln Memorial

O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead
-Walt Whitman

The familiar lines have long been what I think of when I remember Abraham Lincoln and what he did. This first stanza is still my favorite; maybe because it has that same captivation that all good beginnings have. It draws you in.

Daniel Chester French completed this monumental sculpture in 1922. It is fantastically done! French included every emotion he had about the man in his work on this piece. The expression on Lincoln’s face is one of contemplation; not too heavy, hinted at peaceful.

Personally, I think this statue is another example of how beautiful clothing can be in sculpture. It must be well done, but French pulls it off so completely. There is a reason so many pictures of that memorial include a line of people waiting to see it. It is inviting, endearing, and timeless. Lincoln has been brought to life again, and who wouldn’t want to go meet one the greatest men in history?

The statue originally was supposed to be ten feet tall, but ended up at a full nineteen feet in the end. It was all carved in marble, weighs an incredible 175 short ton, and took four years to carve under the direction of the French. The statue was shipped in twenty-eight separate pieces. I can’t imagine they could have done it any other way.

Another incredible example of the impact of great artwork on our civilization.

Thanks to the following links for info!

http://blog.classicist.org/?p=457
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/24405149
http://getglue.com/topics/p/daniel_chester_french
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Chester_French

Comments

Among the Italians, with Giulio Monteverde

The first time I saw a statue by Giulio Monteverde it stole my breath. As I watched my husband scroll through images of his sculpture on Google yesterday, I knew he was the next sculptor I was going to talk about. He was born in the very small province of Bistagno, Italy, and attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. He was also a senator, but I think that's the least of his achievements. The Boy Columbus, from Wiki Commons The first piece I want to talk about is The Boy Columbus. It's obvious at first glance that Monteverde has a way with subtlety and form that knows how to just ignite your interest and imagination. Columbus has been caught in a moment of formulation, as if he's staring at a point he can't really see because he's concentrating on something else entirely. Thought This next piece, called Il Pensiero which translates in English to Thought , is a striking and powerful multi-figure sculpture. An allegorical masterpiece with a glimpse at one...

Montmartre Cemetery, Paris, France

Mike has been doing a lot of research about the Armenian Genocide, and one of his most recent sculptures is of an angel that will be used as a memorial for a gravesite. In the past few years I have lost many people I love, most recently a young, 20-year-old girl who I was very close to. It's been heartbreaking, and I decided to do this post on the Monmartre Cemetery in Paris because of the way we use art to help in our grieving process. I could've picked from several cemeteries, and though the Staglieno is my favorite, I'm saving that for another day when I can really put together a lot their most gorgeous pieces. Tombs at the Monmartre Cemetery, picture from Ila Chateau The tombs alone in this place are amazing, building up a miniature city of the dead, clearly protecting the bodies and souls of those who've gone before. There are beautiful plants and flowers, well-kept and beautified out of respect. Didsbury Monument, "Douleur" I can't ...

Now: Time for Wax

Though my post is a little late, cut me some slack. It's raining and gorgeous outside, and we've been enjoying it. Might sound crazy, but I am so glad this summer is over. Tomorrow we head to Baer Bronze to check the metal. Before that, Mike had to go out there to check the wax: Mostly, this blog is going to be in photos. Because the photos are awesome and speak for themselves. When I look at this wax, I'm not sure what the purpose is. Here's what I know: Mike's pieces are cast using the Lost Wax method, which means the piece is cast in wax first, remolded, and then when the bronze is poured the wax is burned away. Hence, the lost wax method. This is an amazing shot. What I like about this broken wax piece is the detail you can see. This is pretty much what the bronze will look like. You know, minus the attachments on the bottom. There are some of the pieces that had to be removed and cast separately. The wolf is one of my favorite figures from thi...

North Light Studios

Search This Blog