Huntington, NY – The Heckscher Museum of Art and the Huntington Public Library are pleased to announce that The Heckscher’s rare Seated Lincoln sculpture is now on long term loan at the library. The smaller version of the Abraham Lincoln that is in Washington D.C. ‘s Lincoln Memorial, both by artist Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), is now in the library at 338 Main Street, Huntington, NY.
Seated Lincoln has been part of the Museum collection since 1925, donated by founders Anna and August Heckscher. “We are proud to partner with the Huntington Public Library to share this historic monumental work with the community. As Huntington commemorates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and prepares to celebrate Pride, Juneteenth, and the Anniversary of the ADA this summer, it is a perfect time to reflect and be inspired by President Lincoln’s call to action at Gettysburg that it is ‘for the living to be dedicated to the unfinished work’ of those who came before us to actively work to achieve liberty and justice for all,” noted Heather Arnet, Executive Director and CEO, The Heckscher Museum.
“Lincoln was a self-educated man, and the public library exists to prove that anyone, regardless of background, can learn and achieve great things. To receive one of Daniel Chester French’s original replicas in the year of our nation’s 250th Anniversary is a profound honor,” said Huntington Library Director Jose-Rodrigo Hernandez.
“The Heckscher Museum of Art cares for a rich collection that includes more artworks than we can show in the changing exhibitions we present. We are thrilled to partner with the Huntington Public Library to share Daniel Chester French’s bronze sculpture of President Abraham Lincoln with our community. The artwork speaks to many significant moments and subjects in our nation’s history,” added Heckscher Chief Curator Karli Wurzelbacher, Ph.D.
When French began working on the sculpture, he was already a prominent artist. The popularity of the memorial led French to produce bronze replicas of the working model. In 1924, August Heckscher ordered the second of possibly only nine bronzes that were executed during the sculptor’s lifetime. Other casts are in Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum in Boston and Art Institute of Chicago.
Rather than depicting Lincoln standing, French conceived the figure seated, grave in thought. He noted, “What I wanted to convey was the mental and physical strength of the great war President and his confidence in his ability to carry the [Civil War] through to a successful finish.” The memorial itself was dedicated on May 30, 1922.
ABOUT THE HECKSCHER MUSEUM
The Heckscher Museum of Art is in its second century as a source of art and inspiration on Long Island. Founded by philanthropists Anna and August Heckscher in 1920, the Museum’s collection comprises 2,300 artworks spanning the sixteenth century to the present. The Museum is committed to growing the collection to develop public awareness for the artists whose careers and life experiences can broaden our understanding of the past, foster community connections to the present, and create diverse possibilities for the future. Located in scenic Heckscher Park in Huntington, NY, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Continuing the legacy of the founders, free admission to the Museum is supported through a generous grant from Bank of America. Heckscher.org
ABOUT THE HUNTINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Huntington Public Library recently celebrated 150 years of official library service to the 35,000 residents of the Huntington School District. Its roots, however, reach back even further to 1759, when Reverend Ebenezer Prime served as the first “library-keeper” of a 115-volume collection, establishing Huntington’s first circulating library. In 1929, Theodore Lyman Frost organized an initial collection of 700 children’s books and standard fiction to create the Station Branch Library on New York Avenue. Today, the library’s mission “to foster a love of reading and lifelong learning” is reflected in its extensive resources, including physical and digital collections, educational programs, community events, and special collections that continue to enrich and serve the Huntington community. To learn more visit myhpl.org.