Abraham Lincoln

The bronze statue "Abraham Lincoln, The Hoosier Youth" by the American artist Paul Manship is a striking work of art in the forecourt of the former headquarters of the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The piece was commissioned in 1928 and formally dedicated on September 16, 1932. Manship deliberately chose to portray the young Lincoln as a thoughtful dreamer rather than as an older pioneer. The figure sits on a tree stump, dressed in a homemade shirt, buckskin trousers, and boots, a nod to his humble beginnings in the Indiana woods. In his right hand he holds a partially closed book, symbolizing his intellect, while an ax leans against his leg. A dog sits beside him; its presence underscores Lincoln's compassion and protective instinct toward animals, based on a historical anecdote about his kindness.

The pedestal of the statue was designed by the architect Benjamin Wistar Morris and rests on a granite foundation. On the four sides of the pedestal are allegorical bronze reliefs created by Manship, representing central virtues of Lincoln such as mercy, steadfastness, justice, and patriotism. The entire ensemble, consisting of the roughly 12.5-foot figure and the pedestal, reaches a total height of about 22 feet. The execution follows the simplified Art Deco style typical of Manship. You can admire the statue between the two wings of the historic building and take in the detailed depiction of the young Lincoln as well as the symbolic accompanying elements.

To create the work, Manship traveled to Kentucky and Indiana to learn about Lincoln's youth, since no photographs of the president from that period existed. He also consulted renowned biographers and historians. The bronze was cast in Brussels and then completed in New York. The work is considered a significant monument that captures the early years of the 16th U.S. president in a stylized yet emotionally charged context and offers important insight into his personality.