Lincoln Slept Here

[RJNorton]

Mary, thank you for posting Lloyd Ostendorf's artwork. His image of Nancy Hanks Lincoln seems to be the "gold standard" based on books I have. I think most every book I have that includes a portrait of Nancy uses Mr. Ostendorf's work.

However, I thought I would include another version. Several years ago I was contacted by a gentleman named Bryan Eaton. Bryan said he had researched Nancy. Bryan's portrayal of Nancy Hanks is below. Bryan writes:

"I have performed a second bit of forensic photo work to portray Nancy Hanks as she may have looked in the early 1800s. I think one can see a better potential of the likeness to what may have been the way Nancy Hanks Lincoln appeared. I have achieved this by taking facial characteristics from the Lincoln family members and eliminating facial characteristics that are not from Thomas Lincoln or Mary Todd. Added references to photos of the family tree, specifically noting resemblences to the offspring of Robert Lincoln, Jessie Harlan Lincoln and Mary Beckwith Lincoln, are used to obtain the most recurring facial structure."

©Copyright Bryan Eaton - image is from http://www.ColorOfLincoln.com