New Statue Destined For President Lincoln's Cottage

Here is a clay and plaster model of a new statue which will be installed at President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, D.C. This model is 3 percent larger than life to allow for settling in the bronze-casting process for the actual statue.

The sculptors are Stuart Williamson and Jiwoong Cheh, working for the design shop StudioIES in Brooklyn, New York. The statue differs from so many others of Abe in that this one actually shows him with a slight smile, as if Lincoln is greeting a valued friend or relative upon arrival at his summer home. It looks like it's going to be beautiful.

The story of the statue may be found here in The New York Times. President Lincoln's Cottage, the former Soldiers' Home, in Washington, D.C. has recently reopened after an extensive restoration. It is thought by historians that this mansion was where Lincoln wrote The Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln used it as a refuge from the oppressive heat of the city and to escape the burdens of the White House. It was the Camp David of the day. An interesting article here, also from the Times, discusses the history and restoration efforts of the Cottage.