This full body sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, sculpted in 1956, by Avard T. Fairbanks, depicts Lincoln during his time in Chicago. This replica is a plaster cast, painted to appear bronze, of the heroic size statue of United States President, Abraham Lincoln, is located at Lincoln Square in Chicago.
This sculpture of Lincoln is life-size with his full body. He is standing with his left foot forward. His right hand is resting on a waist high pillar that is partially draped and has a large book laying on top of it. In his left hand, he holds is top hat, as well as, a book in the crook of his arm. He is looking ahead and slightly to the left. He is clean shaven and wears period clothing including square-toed boots, trousers, a button up shirt, buttoned vest, bow tie, and a knee length overcoat.
This collection of Abraham Lincoln sculptures was created by the native Utah and internationally important American sculptor, Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks.
They Depict Lincoln at different stages of his life; (as a frontiersman, at the pivotal time when he put down the axe of the frontiersman and began the study of letters, as an orator, as a political candidate participating in the Lincoln - Douglas debate, as the American President, and writing the Gettysburg Address).
Many of the sculptures in this Abraham Lincoln collection are replicas of sculptures located throughout the country. Additional information on the original sculptures, including this one, can be found at: (
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To check out the original, which has already been waymarked, go to: (
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More information about the original "The Chicago Lincoln", can be found at: (
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"Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks
Born: March 2, 1897 - Died: January 1, 1987
Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was born in Provo Utah in 1897. The son of John B. Fairbanks a well known artist, Avard will continue the family legacy as a prolific sculptor. With the death of his mother Lilly when he was only about a year old, and his father busy providing for his family Avard’s brother J. Leo Fairbanks will manage the family.
At the age of 12, Avard showed interest in sculpting. With the guidance of J. Leo, Avard’s first work was a clay model of a rabbit. This model would win first prize in the State Fair. At the age of 13, Avard would follow his father to New York City. Modeling animals from the Bronx Zoological Gardens and showing a natural talent for sculpting, Avard would be awarded scholarships to study at the Arts Students League at New York. During this time Avard would become personally acquainted with several notable sculptors. These included Cyrus E. Dallin (sculptor of the Winfield Scott Hancock on the Pennsylvania Memorial) and Lorado Taft (sculptor of the 3rd, 4th Michigan Infantry Monuments and the Michigan “Custer” Memorial). In 1913 Avard would move to Paris to study at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts. While in Paris he would also study at the Ecole de la Grande Chaumiere and other noted schools.
Today, Fairbanks is considered one of the most distinguished sculptors in America. His statues have been erected around the world. Throughout the United States, Fairbanks is particularly well known for his Lincoln monuments. Four of his works are on permanent display in the U.S. Capitol Building’s statuary hall as well as four marble busts of Lincoln located in Ford Theater, Washington DC." (
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"An outstanding regional cultural center which showcases regional history, art and a world-class collection of Arvard T. Fairbanks's works of art. The museum features sculptures, a replica of the Huntington Mammoth, carvings, and artwork. Two buildings of exhibits will keep visitors engaged for hours." (
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"Historical artifacts, art (sculpture and painting), humanities lectures, school tours, local historic archive, oral history collection, family history collection. New Columbian Mammoth skeleton, extensive Avard Fairbank sculpture collection." (
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