Ernest Moore Viquesney (American, 1876–1946)
Lincoln as an Indiana Boy, 1938
Bronze
27 x 15.5 x 17 in.
This bronze depicts Abraham Lincoln during his Indiana boyhood years, seated on a tree stump with axe in hand while his faithful dog rests at his feet. The young Lincoln leans in contemplation, embodying the frontier virtues of hard work, perseverance, and humility. Engraved with the phrase, “I will get ready and maybe someday my chance will come,” the sculpture reflects Lincoln’s lifelong commitment to self-education and preparation for opportunity.
The artist, Ernest Moore Viquesney, is best remembered for his popular World War I monument The Spirit of the American Doughboy (1920), thousands of which were erected across the United States. Working largely in the first half of the 20th century, Viquesney sought to create accessible, patriotic works that celebrated national identity and resilience. With Lincoln as an Indiana Boy, he turns to an American icon, capturing not the statesman-president, but a reflective youth who would grow into one of the nation’s greatest leaders.
