Seated Lincoln | |
 Seated Lincoln, a sculpture ofAbraham Lincoln inNewark, New Jersey | |
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| Location | Jct. of Springfield Ave. and Market St., Essex County Courthouse Plaza,Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°44′13″N74°10′40″W / 40.73694°N 74.17778°W /40.73694; -74.17778 |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Gutzon Borglum |
| Architectural style | Monument/Sculpture |
| MPS | Public Sculpture in Newark MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000303[1] |
| NJRHP No. | 2805[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1995 |
| Designated NJRHP | February 15, 1995 |
Seated Lincoln is a 1911 sculpture byGutzon Borglum, located next to theEssex County Courthouse inNewark,Essex County,New Jersey. It was added to theNational Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1995, for its significance in art.[3]
The bronze sculpture depictsAbraham Lincoln larger than life size, seated at one end of a bench also cast in bronze. Lincoln is bearded but bare headed, with hisstovepipe hat resting on the bench beside the man's hand. The bronze is set on a low stone platform with five steps, beside the steps to the courthouse. The informal composition was an unusual departure from the usual monumental depiction of Lincoln standing or enthroned on a high plinth. It was inspired by Borglum's research, reading that Lincoln often sat alone on a bench in theWhite House garden to gather his thoughts during the American Civil War, particularly when there was bad news.[3] In 1908, Borgulm had completed the marblebust of Lincoln which is now installed at the U.S. Capitol, and he later sculpted the heads of four U.S. presidents including Lincoln atMount Rushmore.
The work was funded by a $25,000 bequest by Newark businessman Amos Hoagland Van Horn, who died in 1908. Van Horn's estate also funded Borglum'sWars of America monument, erected in Newark in 1926.[4][5]
The sculpture was cast at theGorham Manufacturing Company foundry in New York, and dedicated by PresidentTheodore Roosevelt onMemorial Day, May 30, 1911.[6] Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Why this doesn't look like a monument at all!" which Borglum took as a compliment.[3] The sculpture was restored in 1980 by the Cavalier Renaissance Foundry ofBridgeport, Connecticut.[3]
Borglum also made a number of smaller bronzemaquettes of the statue. One example, 22 in × 29 in × 15.75 in (55.9 cm × 73.7 cm × 40.0 cm), was sold atSotheby's in 2009 for $62,500,[7] and another in 2016 for $100,000.[8]
While Lincoln won the most electors in the1860 United States presidential election in New Jersey, he won fewer votes across the state and inEssex County than the other three candidates combined. Historian Charles Cummings has attributed this opposition to Newark businesses' significant demand from southern plantations.[9]
To quell Newark business owners' interest in seceding,New Jersey GovernorCharles Smith Olden invited Lincoln to speak inTrenton while traveling to hisfirst inauguration. TheNewark Common Council subsequently invited Lincoln to visit Newark along his train ride betweenNew York City and Trenton. Lincoln agreed and on February 21, 1861, hispresidential train stopped in Newark for 45 minutes.[9]
During this visit, Newark MayorMoses Bigelow greeted Lincoln and gave a tour of the city's parks.[9] Despite Lincoln never visiting the city again, the city has many memorials dedicated to Lincoln, such as this sculpture.[10]
The museum's request was simple and to the point, said Mr. Martin: It offered to completely restore the pitted, green-tinged statue free 'if we would allow the museum to cast a copy of the statue, which in turn would go on display at the base of Mount Rushmore.'
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