Lincoln and Grant 1894

Thomas Eakins created these bronze relief portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, two iconic figures from American history. The material used, bronze, is significant. Typically reserved for grand public monuments, bronze elevates the status of the subjects. But Eakins was also keenly interested in the processes of observation, modelling, and casting that were required for the task. He believed the artist should be as familiar with the workshops of industry, as with the traditions of the academy. Consider how Eakins, celebrated for his realist painting, translated that sensibility into sculpture. The rough textures and subtle details of the surfaces are a testament to his meticulous approach. He captured the weight and form of the figures with an anatomical precision honed through his studies of the human body. Ultimately, Eakins’s dedication to both material and social truth blurs the lines between art and craft, challenging us to see the value in skilled making.