Six Months at the White House with Abraham Lincoln: The Story of a Picture

Francis Bicknell Carpenter

This memoir by painter Francis Bicknell Carpenter includes observations he made during his time at the White House from February-July 1864, while painting Abraham Lincoln's portrait. We see him in this book of Mr, Carpenter’s to that advantage which perfect unaffectedness and sincerity can never lose. During the time that Mr. Carpenter was making studies for his picture of the President signing the Emancipation Proclamation, he was in daily contact with him,—saw him in consultation with his Cabinet, at play with his children, receiving office-seekers of all kinds, granting many favors to poor and friendless people, snubbing Secession insolence, and bearing patiently much impertinence from every source,—jesting, laughing, lamenting. (summary adapted from The Atlantic, November 1866). (8 hr 6 min)