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The Boyhood of Lincoln—An evening in the log hut

The Boyhood of Lincoln—An evening in the log hut

Public Domain

The Boyhood of Lincoln—An evening in the log hut
ArtistAmerican, active 1860s–1894
ArtistAmerican, 1824–1906
PublisherAmerican, born Prussian Silesia, 1824–1909
RetailerUtica, New York
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • The Boyhood of Lincoln—An evening in the log hut
Date1868
Retailed inUtica, New York, United States
Published inBoston, Massachusetts, United States
MediumChromolithograph on paper on board
DimensionsImage: 21 × 16 7/8 in. (53.3 × 42.9 cm)
 Sheet: 21 5/16 × 17 5/16 in. (54.1 × 44 cm)
 Frame: 26 1/4 × 22 in. (66.7 × 55.9 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Robert H. Allen, John Butler, M. Robert Dussler, Harry Gee, D. Cal McNair, R. Cary McNair, Wm. P. O'Connell, Scott Schwinger, and Joe Sutton, in honor of Robert C. McNair and the Houston Texans at "One Great Night in November, 2009"
Object numberB.2010.2
Not on view

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Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
DescriptionEastman Johnson captures Abraham Lincoln’s self-education in The Boyhood of Lincoln, an image that strongly and enduringly affected the popular image of Lincoln’s formative years. Johnson depicts the future president as a young student leaning closer to the fire to have enough light to read his book. A leader in the development of chromolithography and its application to fine art printing, Louis Prang adapted Eastman’s painting, now in the collection of the Museum of Art of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, into a chromolithograph. According to Prang’s promotional text, “This picture…is full of artistic excellencies…. It teaches that in America there is no social eminence impossible to the lowliest youth, who by perseverance, study, and honesty of life and purpose, shall seek to reach the ranks of the rulers of the people.”
Provenance[The Philadelphia Print Shop, Philadelphia]; purchased by MFAH, 2010.
Exhibition History"The Marzio Years: Transforming the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1982–2010," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 25, 2020–January 10, 2021.
Published References Marzio, Peter C. The Democratic Art: Pictures for a 19th-Century America: Chromolithography, 1840–1900, 125, 320. Boston: D.R. Godine, 1979. Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Recto: Signed and inscribed in printed ink, in image, bottom left corner: E. Johnson 1868
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, in image, bottom center: CHROMOLITH & PUBLISHED BY L. PRANG & Co.
Recto: Signed and inscribed in printed ink, in image, bottom right corner: W. Harring Ch.
Verso: Inscribed in pencil, top center: 120/ 9/1080 / 1870 LB
Verso: Label in printed ink, center: FROM / BUCKINGHAM & KETCHUM’S / MUSIC ROOMS / AND / Free Art Gallery / A LARGE COLLECTION OF / Oil Paintings, American & Foreign Chromos, Engravings, & c. / Always on Exhibit and for Sale. / Picture Frames on hand and made (indecipherable) ler, either in Black Walnut / or G (indecipherable) / 169 GENESEE STREET, UTICA, N.Y.
Verso: Retailer’s Stamp in ink, center: BUCKINGHAM & KETCHUM, / MUSIC ROOOMS & ART GALLERY / MANUFACTURERS OF / LOOKING GLASSES, WINDOW CORNICES, / AND PICTURE FRAMES, / No. 169 GENESEE STREET, / UTICA, N.Y.
Verso: Label in printed ink, lower left corner: “PRANG’S / American Chromos. / The Boyhood of Lincoln. / (An Evening in the Log Hut.) / AFTER EASTMAN JOHNSON. / The Original Painting in possession of the Publishers. / Chromo-Lithographed and Published by / L. PRANG & CO. / Washington Street, Boston Highlands. / Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1868 by L. PRANG & CO. in the Clerk’s / Office of the District Court of the District of Mass.
Verso: Label in printed ink, lower right corner: A LIST OF / Prang’s American Chromos, / DEC. 1, 1868. / … (see file for label of photo)

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William Harring