Painted on April 19, 1865—just four days after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination—George Henry Hall’s In Memoriam Lincoln captures the 16th president with quiet strength and introspective resolve. Rendered in warm, solemn tones against a glowing, atmospheric background, the portrait reflects Hall’s skill as both a painter and storyteller. Lincoln’s thoughtful expression, softened by a faint half-smile, conveys a leader burdened by wartime responsibility yet grounded in conviction.
Hall, one of America’s most respected still-life painters of the mid-nineteenth century, was deeply influenced by the British Pre-Raphaelite movement. Known primarily for his exquisite fruit and floral compositions, he also created genre scenes inspired by his travels in Italy and Spain. Though portraiture was not his primary focus, this painting stands out as a powerful response to national tragedy, uniting Hall’s painterly finesse with a reverent depiction of civic loss.
Over a prolific career, Hall produced more than 1,500 works and exhibited widely, from New York to Paris and Rome. His legacy endures in American museum collections and in poignant, timely works such as this one.
Oil on canvas
33 x 24 1/2 in.
