작품 상세

Abraham Lincoln: 1860 Plaster Bust by Leonard Volk. Hollow plaster bust of Lincoln by Chicago artist Leonard Wells Volk. Measures 25" high and 15" across. Lincoln visited Volk's Chicago studio on March 31, 1860 where a life mask was produced which served as a model for the bust. Volk visited Lincoln in Springfield after he received the Republican nomination and made plaster casts of his hands. We note two versions of the large "nude" bust produced in 1860. In the 1880's, a third version was produced showing Lincoln draped in a toga. The nude busts are the only ones we can definitively say were produced in 1860. This one is inscribed on one side "Patented June 12 1860" and, on the other, "L. W. Volk Sculptor 1860". It is covered in the original cream color "marble" finish paint, applied over the raw plaster. There is scattered chipping of the paint, as shown. At some time, the bust was dropped, resulting in a noticeable crack in the chest area. This tapers off to a hairline which travels up the chest, over the shoulder and down the back. We believe the piece to be stable, as the crack does not go all the way through to the interior. The bust rests on a painted pine base which, although made after 1860, is included with the piece. We recently sold another example of the bust with green/gold finish for over $18,000. Volk also produced a plaster and a marble bust of Douglas. The marble bust, we are glad to report, still exists.