1. Material:
  2. oil (30)

Portrait of John George Nicolay

Creator:
Helen Nicolay
Location:
unknown place made
Origin Date:
1898-1902
Materials:
oil, canvas
Measurements:
overall: 48 in x 33 1/2 in
Item ID:
71.2009.081.0003
Holding Institution:
Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum
Available for Viewing:
No
Category:
Fine Art

Description

This portrait depicts John George Nicolay sitting in a wooden chair with legs crossed, facing the viewer's right. He is an older man with thin white hair combed to the side and a long white beard and moustache. He is wearing a black or dark brown suit with vest and white shirt. He holds a book in his left hand and spectacles in his right hand. The background is a wash of dark blues and browns. The artist initialed "HN" in red upper case letters in the left corner. John Nicolay was one of two private secretaries to President Abraham Lincoln who came to Washington, D. C., with him from Springfield, Illinois. See ID number 71.2009.081.1149 for a photograph of him with President Lincoln and John Hay, the other private secretary mentioned above. This painting was executed by Helen Nicolay, daughter of John George Nicolay, the man portrayed in the painting. For more information about items in this collection related to John G. Nicolay see the online finding aid at https://archive.org/stream/nicolaycollectiogast#page/n1/mode/2up . Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum