Inauguration of Jefferson Davis 1861

This wood engraving, created by Winslow Homer in 1861, depicts the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as the first president of the Confederate States of America. The scene takes place in Montgomery, Alabama, outside the Capitol building, and portrays a large gathering of people witnessing the event. The engraving, originally published in Harper's Weekly, offers a historical snapshot of a pivotal moment in American history, capturing the formal ceremony and the surrounding crowd. The composition, with its emphasis on the building and the figures, highlights the grandeur of the occasion and the significance of the event. This artwork, now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's collection, provides a powerful visual record of the Confederacy's founding.