Grand Army of the Republic

Unidentified, Grand Army of the Republic, 1909, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle, 1972.167.58
Copied Unidentified, Grand Army of the Republic, 1909, bronze, 3 in. (7.6 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle, 1972.167.58
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Grand Army of the Republic
Artist
Unidentified
Founder
Davidson and Sons
Date
1909
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
3 in. (7.6 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Keywords
  • History — United States
  • Allegory — place — America
  • Homage — Lincoln, Abraham
Object Number
1972.167.58
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1972.167.58

Artwork Description

This medal commemorates the 100th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The inscription seen here, “With malice toward none, with charity for all” is from Lincoln’s second inaugural address and also appears on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Grand Army of the Republic, which sponsored this medal, was a fraternal organization of Union veterans established in Illinois after the Civil War and disbanded in 1956. The GAR assisted veterans’ widows and children, lobbied for pensions and housing for veterans, and inaugurated the observance of Memorial Day.