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Catalog Data

Artist:
J. L. Giles, active c. 1861 - 1881  Search this
Copy after:
Horatio Bateman  Search this
Publisher:
Francis Ratellier  Search this
Sitter:
John Caldwell Calhoun, 18 Mar 1782 - 31 Mar 1850  Search this
Daniel Webster, 18 Jan 1782 - 24 Oct 1852  Search this
Robert Edward Lee, 19 Jan 1807 - 12 Oct 1870  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant, 27 Apr 1822 - 23 Jul 1885  Search this
Horace Greeley, 3 Feb 1811 - 29 Nov 1872  Search this
Jefferson Davis, 3 Jun 1808 - 6 Dec 1889  Search this
Medium:
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions:
Image: 50.1 × 64.3 cm (19 3/4 × 25 5/16")
Sheet: 57.5 × 74.2 cm (22 5/8 × 29 3/16")
Mat (Verified): 66 × 81.3 cm (26 × 32")
Type:
Print
Date:
1867
Exhibition Label:
In 1867, in the wake of horrific racial violence in the South, the New York artist John Lawrence Giles engraved this hopeful vision of the peaceful and unified nation that would result from Reconstruction. The designer and publisher, Horatio Bateman, issued an explanatory booklet to help interpret the complex allegory.
The structure at the center represents the United States, shown in the process of reconstruction. Teams of citizens carry back missing columns that had formerly rested on foundations of slavery, to be re-erected on bases of justice, liberty, and education. John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, and other historical figures observe from the heavens, with Jesus Christ floating above them and female personifications of Justice and Liberty at left and right. Scenes of racial harmony and political reconciliation fill the foreground while thriving communities dot the panoramic background. More than 150 years on, the aspirational national vision portrayed by Giles remains under construction.
En 1867, tras un período de terrible violencia racial en el sur, el artista neoyorquino John Lawrence Giles plasmó en grabado esta visión esperanzadora de una nación unida y en paz, que sería el resultado de la Reconstrucción. El diseñador y editor, Horatio Bateman, hizo un folleto explicativo para interpretar la compleja alegoría.
La estructura del centro representa a Estados Unidos en el proceso de la reconstrucción. Varios grupos de ciudadanos devuelven columnas antes apoyadas en los cimientos de la esclavitud, para ahora colocarlas sobre cimientos de justicia, libertad y educación. John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster y otras figuras históricas observan desde el cielo mientras Jesucristo flota sobre ellos con personificaciones femeninas de la Justicia y la Libertad a izquierda y derecha. En primer plano vemos escenas de armonía racial y reconciliación política, mientras el fondo ofrece un panorama de prósperas comunidades.
Más de 150 años después, la visión nacional soñada por Giles continúa en construcción.
Topic:
Jefferson Davis: Male  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Literature\Writer  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Military and Intelligence\Soldier  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Politics and Government\Confederate President  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Mississippi  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Politics and Government\US Senator\Mississippi  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War  Search this
Jefferson Davis: Politics and Government\Governor\Mississippi  Search this
Robert Edward Lee: Male  Search this
Robert Edward Lee: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Confederate Army  Search this
Robert Edward Lee: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator\President  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Male  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Education and Scholarship\Scholar\Philosopher  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Politics and Government\US Congressman\South Carolina  Search this
John Caldwell Calhoun: Politics and Government\US Senator\South Carolina  Search this
Horace Greeley: Male  Search this
Horace Greeley: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate  Search this
Horace Greeley: Journalism and Media\Magazine publisher  Search this
Horace Greeley: Journalism and Media\Newspaper publisher  Search this
Horace Greeley: Journalism and Media\Journalist\Reporter\Newspaper  Search this
Horace Greeley: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Abolitionist  Search this
Daniel Webster: Male  Search this
Daniel Webster: Law and Crime\Lawyer  Search this
Daniel Webster: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Massachusetts  Search this
Daniel Webster: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of State  Search this
Daniel Webster: Politics and Government\US Senator\Massachusetts  Search this
Daniel Webster: Politics and Government\US Congressman\New Hampshire  Search this
Daniel Webster: Education and Scholarship\Orator  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Male  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.87.216
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition:
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View:
NPG, East Gallery 123
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm46a1e1a13-3cba-48a1-9835-9aaf5adae443
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.87.216