Lincoln’s deathbed
1865
Alfred Rudolph Waud was essentially the 'breaking news' cameraman of the Civil War, and this frantic sketch captures the somber final hours of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. You can see his hurried handwriting labeling the grieving cabinet members—like Secretary of War Stanton—crowded around the President's bed at the Petersen House. It feels less like a polished masterpiece and more like a visual telegram sent to a shocked nation, freezing a moment of immense tragedy in quick, gestural lines. Waud was famous for his speed, often sketching scenes just hours after they happened, making this a raw, eyewitness account of history.
- Technique
- Pencil sketch
- Material
- Paper
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