President Lincoln and Gen. McClellan on Battle-Field of Antietam

Object Details

Artist: Alexander Gardner, 17 Oct 1821 - 10 Dec 1882
Sitter: Abraham Lincoln, 12 Feb 1809 - 15 Apr 1865; George Brinton McClellan, 3 Dec 1826 - 29 Oct 1885

Exhibition Label: More accurately, this photograph should be titled Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan and Staff. Dissatisfied with General McClellan’s nonresponsiveness after Antietam—he did not pursue Robert E. Lee’s army, nor did he convey any urgency in getting his own army back into action—Abraham Lincoln went out to Maryland in October to meet with him. (McClellan had a habit of making the commander in chief come to him, which Lincoln tolerated but also noted as a sign of the officer’s arrogance.) In this portrait, McClellan, diminutive and in a forage cap, faces the figure of the president who, complete with trademark stovepipe hat, towers over him and the rest of the officers. Standing at the far right is cavalry captain George A. Custer.

1862

Medium: Albumen silver print
Dimensions: Image/Sheet: 17.6 x 22.5cm (6 15/16 x 8 7/8"); Mat: 35.6 x 45.7cm (14 x 18")

National Portrait Gallery

Topic: Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair; Nature & Environment\Plant\Tree; Weapon\Sword; Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache; Architecture\Building\Tent; Costume\Headgear\Hat\Top hat; Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard; Exterior\Military Camp; George Brinton McClellan: Male; George Brinton McClellan: Politics and Government\Presidential Candidate; George Brinton McClellan: Military\Army\Officer\General; George Brinton McClellan: Politics and Government\Governor\New Jersey; George Brinton McClellan: Military\Army\Officer\Major General; Abraham Lincoln: Male; Abraham Lincoln: Law and Law Enforcement\Lawyer; Abraham Lincoln: Military\Soldier; Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\President of US; Abraham Lincoln: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Environmentalist; Abraham Lincoln: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant; Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Illinois; Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government Official\Surveyor; Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\State Senator\Illinois; Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government Official\Postmaster; Abraham Lincoln: Crafts and Trades\Boat builder; Portrait

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm423cc327f-dc24-415e-ac8a-97b773ef1f68