The Lincoln Centenary 1909

Jules Edouard Roiné created "The Lincoln Centenary" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The plaque presents an allegorical scene blending mourning and celebration. Here, we see Lincoln seated at a desk, pen in hand, immortalized in the act of writing. An angel, a classical symbol, bestows a wreath upon his head. This act of crowning suggests recognition and triumph, yet the somber expression on Lincoln's face evokes the weight of his decisions, particularly regarding slavery and the Civil War. How do we reconcile the idealized, almost romanticized portrayal of Lincoln with the complex realities of his presidency, including his shifting views on racial equality? Roiné's work invites us to reflect on the narratives we construct around historical figures and the selective memory that shapes our understanding of the past. The plaque is an artifact of its time, reflecting early 20th-century perspectives on Lincoln's legacy.