Paul Manship (American, 1885–1966)
Abraham Lincoln, The Hoosier Youth, ca. 1930
Bronze, 18 in.
Cast by Bruno Bearzi Foundry, Florence
Commissioned in 1928 for the new headquarters of Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Abraham Lincoln, The Hoosier Youth reflects Paul Manship’s effort to depict Lincoln as a real and relatable young man. The project’s architect, Benjamin Wistar Morris, recommended Manship, already acclaimed for his ability to fuse classical form with American subject matter.
Manship traveled throughout Indiana with Louis A. Warren, director of Lincoln National, to research Lincoln’s early life. To complete his vision, he brought a hound dog from Kentucky to his studio in Paris to model the loyal companion seen in the sculpture.
The final monument, cast in Brussels, now stands in Fort Wayne. This version—one of Manship’s study casts—was produced by the Bruno Bearzi Foundry in Florence.
Provenance:
Louise Taper, Beverly Hills, California
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation Collection
