Description

a) This miniature painting on ivory of President Abraham Lincoln was mostly likely done from life. The portrait depicts Lincoln in his usual business attire turned toward the viewer's right with a greenish-gray background. The artist painted Lincoln's hair dark with a little gray showing. The miniature is encased in an oval metal frame with the following inscription found on the reverse, "President Lincoln, Painted by Daniel Huntington, 1864." b) An oval wooden case with cloth lining protects the miniature. See "Lincoln Lore" number 1521, November, 1964, for more information on the miniature painting, the history of miniature paintings, and the artist. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum Daniel Huntington (1816-1906) studied at Yale with Samuel F.B. Morse, and later with Henry Inman (painter). From 1833 to 1835 he transferred to Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where he met Charles Loring Elliott, who encouraged him to become an artist. He first exhibited his work at the National Academy of Design in 1836. Subsequently he painted some landscapes in the tradition of the Hudson River School. Huntington made several trips to Europe, the first in 1839 traveling to England, Rome, Florence and Paris with his friend and pupil Henry Peters Gray. On his return to America in 1840, he painted his allegorical painting "Mercy's Dream", which brought him fame and confirmed his interest in inspirational subjects. He also painted portraits and began the illustration of The Pilgrim's Progress. In 1844, he went back to Rome. Returning to New York around 1846, he devoted his time chiefly to portrait-painting, although he painted many genre, religious and historical subjects. From 1851 to 1859 he was in England. He was president of the National Academy of Design from 1862 to 1870, and again in 1877-1890. He was also vice president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Two of his Lincoln portraits were exhibited in the Union League Club of New York City and the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York..