Lincoln c Kristin Helberg 2013
Abraham Lincoln is one of America's truly tragic figures. A philosopher by nature, he had a moral struggle with the issues that divided the North and the South. His own home was in conflict by the war since his wife had southern relatives and they had to be snuck into the White House for family visits.
Both he and Mary Todd LIncoln suffered from depression over the years. They lost their dear son to sickness and had to constantly deal with the stress of the war. And just when the country had ended the great Civil war and the Lincolns both had hope in their hearts again, he was struck down on April 14th and died on April 15th.
I had to paint those sad and wise eyes: the man was a craggy tree against the storm.