Death-Bed of Lincoln / April 15, 1865: Albumen Photograph of Painting

Albumen Photograph of Littlefield's painting, on a mount bearing the printed names of each person in the image. 9-1/4" x 5-5/8" albumen photo, lalid on mount 14" x 11" overall.

John Littlefield began studying law under Lincoln in 1858, after previously being a design painter in the carriage trade. With Lincoln's nomination, Littlefield began stumping across the state on Lincoln's behalf. Littlefield made over 60 speeches, and in 1862 he was given a place in the Treasury Department.

After the assassination, Littlefield conceived the idea of painting a death-bed scene. He completed and copyrighted the painting in 1865, it was then photographed by John Goldin, and the mount printed by William Terry, with a key printed on the mat to identify the fine likenesses, taken from photographs, of the 25 eyewitnesses who are crowded into a small bedroom at the Peterson House. The profile of Lincoln, though, shows the first-hand knowledge Littlefield gained from years with the president.

Photograph is excellent, save for a very small bend of the lower right corner. Adhered to a stiff board, excellent except for a few bends above and away from the albumen, very slight water tiding that also is away from the image, and a small bump of the lower left corner.

A truly scarce memento from shortly after Lincoln's assassination, when the horror was still palpable throughout (especially) the North.