Lincoln's Second Inauguration

Art Historical Context

Step into the pivotal moment of American history with *Lincoln's Second Inauguration*, albumen print captured by photographer Alexander Gardner on March4, 1865. Gardner, renowned for his stark Civil War documentation after working with Mathew Brady, masterfully recorded President Abraham Lincoln's swearing-in ceremony amid the Capitol's grand portico. This intimate yet expansive view (image 16.7 × 22.7 cm on a larger 26.8 × 34.8 cm mount) a crowd gathered in Washington, D.C., as Lincoln delivered his unforgettable Second Inaugural Address, urging reconciliation with the words, "With malice toward none, with charity for all." The photograph's historical weight is immense: taken just weeks before Lincoln's assassination and as the Civil War neared its end, it symbolizes hope amid division. Albumen prints like this one, made by coating paper with egg whites and silver salts from glass negatives, were the gold standard of 1860s photography. Their rich tonal range and fine detail brought unprecedented realism to public events, transforming photography from studio portraits to vital historical records. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's photography collection (gift of funds from Ronald M. Costell, M.D., and the Estate of Marsha E. Swiss), this piece invites us to witness resilience and unity. A testament to Gardner's eye for the epochal, it reminds visitors of photography's power to preserve fleeting moments of destiny.

About the Artist

Alexander Gardner · 1840–1882

Alexander Gardner was born on 17 October 1821 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and came of age in a culture shaped by radical social thought. Influenced by the cooperative ideals of Robert Owen, Gardner initially apprenticed as a jeweler and harbored dreams of founding a utopian community in America. His encounter with photography changed the course of his life. After seeing Mathew Brady's cele...