Description

This pen and ink illustration depicts President-elect Abraham and Mary Lincoln across the street from their Springfield, Illinois, home while their sons Willie and Tad run ahead of them toward the house. Lincoln looks down upon Mary as she smiles while watching the boys. Abraham wears a black coat, vest, and bow tie with a white collared shirt and black top hat. Mary wears a dress and bonnet with bows and a flower, and carries a small handbag on her left arm. The house sits in the background and is positioned at a three quarter view facing slightly toward the viewer's right. The artist's printed signature and date and the caption reading, "Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln are returning home from church, Sunday, Dec. 9, 1860. Willie and Tad run ahead." are in the lower right corner of the image. The artist's handwritten signature in blue ink with the date, "June 16 1988" are below the caption. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum