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| From flickr |
In cleaning out some old text books, I came upon a history book that contained this photo. The description below the photo noted that this was the last photo taken of Lincoln. I’ve since learned that this was not the last photo taken of Lincoln, but it still has an interesting back story:
“One of the most important American photographs ever made, historically and esthetically, the so-called “cracked-plate” Lincoln made by Alexander Gardner in 1865. Once thought to be the last photograph made of the president, done in April of 1865, the month of his assassination, it has now been dated several months earlier to February. This change takes away none of the photo’s poignancy. Lincoln’s face is tragically worn and wrinkled as a tortoise’s, yet that strange, powerful physiognomy is also determined with the hint of a smile.
After Lincoln’s death on April 15, 1865, the photograph acquired special significance. The crack in the plate–near the spot on Lincoln’s forehead where Booth’s bullet passed — seemed to foretell the assassination.” (Also from Flickr.)
As noted, the photo was taken by Alexander Gardner but my first assumption was that it was by Matthew Brady. Turns out that while I assumed incorrectly, I was not too far off: Gardner worked for Brady at one time, but ultimately quit because Brady would smack his name on photo’s taken by his employees. Hate it when the boss takes credit for your work right? Happy President’s Day! Stop by Buzzy’s Country Store today for a shot of Knob Creek in honor of Abe.