Description:
Print shows a reenactment of Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation on July 22, 1862, painted by Francis B. Carpenter at the White House in 1864. Depicted, from left to right are: Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, President Lincoln, Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Interior, William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General, and Edward Bates, Attorney General. Simon Cameron and Andrew Jackson are featured as paintings. The artist of this print, Frances Carpenter, thought the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation was one of the great achievements of humankind. Being proud of it as an American, he wanted to document it. Carpenter petitioned Abraham Lincoln to make an official print of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, because he believed in it, but it was also as a political move. He thought it would give a cause to the North in the Civil War and generate new enthusiasm. Lincoln was very excited about publicizing the Emancipation Proclamation. He agreed with Carpenter to do a print, and invited Frances Carpenter into the White House. For a sixth month period, Frances Carpenter moved into the White House and used the dining room in the White House as his studio. Lincoln got all the members of his cabinet to sit for Carpenter, because Lincoln wanted accuracy. Each member of the cabinet had his photograph taken and Carpenter worked on the portraits. And then he constructed this scene. Some of the photographs showing these people sitting in the positions that were used by Carpenter still survive. Carpenter then took this print and he publicized it. The print helped to publicize this important event, which helped the Northern cause.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2013.13.2 |
