R L Lee head sculpted on back of Lincoln's at Memorial

[wsanto]

I was on a free walking tour of the Washington Mall this weekend and the tour guide mentioned that the sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial sculpted Robert E Lee's face onto the back of Lincoln's head looking backward toward Arlington Cemetery and his former home on the hill. I couldn't see it because I was looking from the wrong side but these pics on the internet seem to show it. Interesting.

[Gene C]

I've never heard of that, that's interesting.

http://dclikealocal.com/dclikealocal/201...oldem.html

[STS Lincolnite]

I have never heard of this either. Next time I am in DC you can bet I will try to check this out for myself!

[wsanto]

(09-15-2014 07:08 AM)Gene C Wrote:  I've never heard of that, that's interesting.

http://dclikealocal.com/dclikealocal/201...oldem.html

Although I don't completely buy into this theory, it is interesting that the author of this article doesn't see the profile while the pic with the article does show a profile that could put you in the mind of Robert E Lee. You can't walk around the statue to see the back of Lincoln's head because the back wall and ropes blocks you. but direct-on pics of the back of his head don't show any distinguishable features except for Lincoln's hair.

I also don't agree that the sculptor, or his assistants would have done this as a tribute to Lee but, more the opposite, as another reminder that Lee was looking backward and not forward and forced to overlook his land occupied as the final resting place for Union soldiers.

[STS Lincolnite]

(09-15-2014 02:41 PM)wsanto Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 07:08 AM)Gene C Wrote:  I've never heard of that, that's interesting.

http://dclikealocal.com/dclikealocal/201...oldem.html

direct-on pics of the back of his head don't show any distinguishable features except for Lincoln's hair.

I also don't agree that the sculptor, or his assistants would have done this as a tribute to Lee but, more the opposite, as another reminder that Lee was looking backward and not forward and forced to overlook his land occupied as the final resting place for Union soldiers.

I thought the same thing you did about a "tribute" to Lee. My first thought was that he would be looking out seeing the graves of the Union dead forever (more of a punishment) - the same reason Montgomery Meigs had them buried there in the first place. I hadn't thought of the looking forward vs. looking back idea but I really like that as well.

Alas, the point is all moot as there is no face of Lee carved in the back of Lincoln's head (I'm a little disappointed a tour guide would say this when with a little investigation its proven false). With some imagination one could possibly be coaxed into seeing what may be construed as a profile of Lee but that is all - and tenuous at best. See the nps website linked below for a picture of the back of Lincoln's head in French's sculpture. Also addresses a couple of other questions about French's sculpture.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

[L Verge]

(09-15-2014 03:57 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:41 PM)wsanto Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 07:08 AM)Gene C Wrote:  I've never heard of that, that's interesting.

http://dclikealocal.com/dclikealocal/201...oldem.html

direct-on pics of the back of his head don't show any distinguishable features except for Lincoln's hair.

I also don't agree that the sculptor, or his assistants would have done this as a tribute to Lee but, more the opposite, as another reminder that Lee was looking backward and not forward and forced to overlook his land occupied as the final resting place for Union soldiers.

I thought the same thing you did about a "tribute" to Lee. My first thought was that he would be looking out seeing the graves of the Union dead forever (more of a punishment) - the same reason Montgomery Meigs had them buried there in the first place. I hadn't thought of the looking forward vs. looking back idea but I really like that as well.

Alas, the point is all moot as there is no face of Lee carved in the back of Lincoln's head (I'm a little disappointed a tour guide would say this when with a little investigation its proven false). With some imagination one could possibly be coaxed into seeing what may be construed as a profile of Lee but that is all - and tenuous at best. See the nps website linked below for a picture of the back of Lincoln's head in French's sculpture. Also addresses a couple of other questions about French's sculpture.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

If you read the NPS link, you probably noted that one of the questions was as to whether one can tour the basement of the Memorial. The answer is no, but about twenty years ago, you could participate in appointment tours of the caverns under the Memorial. I say caverns because it is filled with stalagtites and stalagmites (which I'm sure I just misspelled). There is also a lot of graffiti left behind by the workmen.

[wsanto]

(09-15-2014 03:57 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  Alas, the point is all moot as there is no face of Lee carved in the back of Lincoln's head (I'm a little disappointed a tour guide would say this when with a little investigation its proven false). With some imagination one could possibly be coaxed into seeing what may be construed as a profile of Lee but that is all - and tenuous at best. See the nps website linked below for a picture of the back of Lincoln's head in French's sculpture. Also addresses a couple of other questions about French's sculpture.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

The apparent profile in the pic above is evident but might be an illusion. It's hard to look at it and not see Robert E Lee if you are so predisposed.

Although, if it was intentional, it was brilliant sculpting to put a profile of Lee on the statue from one angle when his face is not at all evident when viewing the back of Lincoln's head with a direct view.

I'm starting to believe it may have been a brilliant sculpting illusion.

---

(09-15-2014 04:59 PM)L Verge Wrote:  If you read the NPS link, you probably noted that one of the questions was as to whether one can tour the basement of the Memorial. The answer is no, but about twenty years ago, you could participate in appointment tours of the caverns under the Memorial. I say caverns because it is filled with stalagtites and stalagmites (which I'm sure I just misspelled). There is also a lot of graffiti left behind by the workmen.

That's interesting. I guess the stalactites and stalagmites are remnants of the construction?? Why would anyone want to go to the basement anyway?

[RickBeaver]

(09-15-2014 07:31 PM)wsanto Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:57 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  Alas, the point is all moot as there is no face of Lee carved in the back of Lincoln's head (I'm a little disappointed a tour guide would say this when with a little investigation its proven false). With some imagination one could possibly be coaxed into seeing what may be construed as a profile of Lee but that is all - and tenuous at best. See the nps website linked below for a picture of the back of Lincoln's head in French's sculpture. Also addresses a couple of other questions about French's sculpture.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

The apparent profile in the pic above is evident but might be an illusion. It's hard to look at it and not see Robert E Lee if you are so predisposed.

Although, if it was intentional, it was brilliant sculpting to put a profile of Lee on the statue from one angle when his face is not at all evident when viewing the back of Lincoln's head with a direct view.

I'm starting to believe it may have been a brilliant sculpting illusion.

---

(09-15-2014 04:59 PM)L Verge Wrote:  If you read the NPS link, you probably noted that one of the questions was as to whether one can tour the basement of the Memorial. The answer is no, but about twenty years ago, you could participate in appointment tours of the caverns under the Memorial. I say caverns because it is filled with stalagtites and stalagmites (which I'm sure I just misspelled). There is also a lot of graffiti left behind by the workmen.

That's interesting. I guess the stalactites and stalagmites are remnants of the construction?? Why would anyone want to go to the basement anyway?

If you guys are familiar with Pee Wee's Big Adventure then you know there is not a basement in the Alamo too!

[L Verge]

(09-15-2014 07:31 PM)wsanto Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:57 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  Alas, the point is all moot as there is no face of Lee carved in the back of Lincoln's head (I'm a little disappointed a tour guide would say this when with a little investigation its proven false). With some imagination one could possibly be coaxed into seeing what may be construed as a profile of Lee but that is all - and tenuous at best. See the nps website linked below for a picture of the back of Lincoln's head in French's sculpture. Also addresses a couple of other questions about French's sculpture.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

The apparent profile in the pic above is evident but might be an illusion. It's hard to look at it and not see Robert E Lee if you are so predisposed.

Although, if it was intentional, it was brilliant sculpting to put a profile of Lee on the statue from one angle when his face is not at all evident when viewing the back of Lincoln's head with a direct view.

I'm starting to believe it may have been a brilliant sculpting illusion.

---

(09-15-2014 04:59 PM)L Verge Wrote:  If you read the NPS link, you probably noted that one of the questions was as to whether one can tour the basement of the Memorial. The answer is no, but about twenty years ago, you could participate in appointment tours of the caverns under the Memorial. I say caverns because it is filled with stalagtites and stalagmites (which I'm sure I just misspelled). There is also a lot of graffiti left behind by the workmen.

That's interesting. I guess the stalactites and stalagmites are remnants of the construction?? Why would anyone want to go to the basement anyway?

The Lincoln Memorial was built on a very marshy area of the city, and lots of fill dirt was brought it. I think the stalactites (thanks, Bill) and stalagmites are natural growths from the variety of dirt and water that is all mixed up down there mixing with the deposits of marble and granite from the Memorial itself???

[HerbS]

It takes all kinds of people that make up what we call-Society.