The Face of Lincoln bronze #33 resides in the Boardroom of Ford’s Theatre, Washington, DC.

The Face of Lincoln bronze #16 resides in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

“The cast bronze face mask titled ‘The Face of Lincoln’ by the preeminent American Sculptor Robert Merrell Gage….is a remarkable piece capturing both Mr. Lincoln’s strengths and frailties and will be a welcome addition to the collection here at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.  The world of Lincoln owes you a debt of gratitude for acquiring and preserving the original terra-cotta and then deciding to share it with the world.  I am sure if Mr. Gage were here today he would thank you for the recognition his work is receiving today and will continue to receive in the future. This work will not only be a source of inspiration and enjoyment for our visitors but might also serve as a stimulus to future artists hoping to capture the iconic image of the 16th President. It will certainly be a valuable resource for researchers from across the globe who travel to Springfield to utilize this facility for many years to come.”

IAN PATRICK HUNT, Chief of Acquisitions
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield Illinois

“Long lost and too-long neglected, the Gage Lincoln bronze is a haunting and powerful three dimensional portrait of the pre-White House Lincoln. On one level a skillful interpretation of the iconic life mask, it somehow conveys more than a mere mold, and invites us into Lincoln’s very essence.”

– HAROLD HOLZER, noted American historian and owner of the Face of Lincoln bronze #22. He was featured on screen in the new six-part CNN documentary series: “Lincoln: Divided We Stand.” 

Winner of The 2015 Gilder-Lehrman Lincoln Prize, is one of the country’s leading authorities on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. A prolific writer and lecturer, and frequent guest on television, Holzer served for six years (2010–2016) as Chairman of The Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation. For the previous 10 years he co-chaired the U. S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC), appointed by President Clinton. President Bush awarded Holzer the National Humanities Medal in 2008. And in 2013, Holzer wrote an essay on Lincoln for the official program at the re-inauguration of President Obama. He is now co-chairman of The Lincoln Forum and a Trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Order Mr. Holzer’s latest book about the Lincoln Memorial here: Monument Man: The Life and Art of Daniel Chester French

The Face of Lincoln bronze #18 resides in the Lincoln Financial Collection.

“The Allen County Public Library is honored and excited to add The Face of Lincoln to our collection.  ACPL serves as host and curator of thousands of items from the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, including photographs and documents belonging or related to President Abraham Lincoln and his family.  The Face of Lincoln brings a new and important perspective for those seeking to better understand how Lincoln carried the burdens of governing a nation at war with itself. The great American sculptor Merrell Gage’s interpretation of the Volk 1860 plaster face cast shows that gravity was already etched into the lines of Lincoln’s face, a precursor of the burdens he would carry as president. We are confident that the Face of Lincoln will become a must-see for everyone from visiting Lincoln scholars to area school students.”

 

Curt Witcher, Director of Special Collections, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN. The Library is the home of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection.

The Face of Lincoln bronze #15 resides in The Lincoln Memorial Shrine Museum

“We are pleased to add this beautiful piece of art to our collection. It is particularly appropriate addition seeing as how Southern California artist Merrell Gage also designed the bas reliefs which adorn the fountains in front of our Lincoln Memorial Shrine (pictured right). I’m certain our visitors’ understanding of Lincoln’s legacy will be enhanced by viewing Gage’s impressive artistry.”

 

Don McCue is the Director of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine Museum of Redlands, CA. McCue is pictured here accepting the bronze from Clell Hamm of the North Carolina Gallery of Fine Art in January 2020.