While visiting the Massachusetts State House in Boston, I photographed an oil painting of Abraham Lincoln that is on display in the lobby. During the tour, the guide pointed out a few interesting things about this portrait:

Abraham Lincoln portraitAbraham Lincoln portrait in the Massachusetts State House at 24 Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts on July 27, 2015 First, this is a rare pose for Lincoln in that he is standing. He almost always preferred to be depicted as sitting. According to the guide, he was somewhat self conscious about his height given that he stood 6' 4" tall in an era when the average man was far shorter than that. He probably would not have approved of this portrait, but had no say in the matter as the artist didn't paint it until a few decades after Lincoln's death.

The guide also mentioned that subjects would often pose with one arm behind their back. The reason for this is that painters would charge substantially more for a painting if the limbs were to be included. The addition of arms and legs added to the cost. Hence the expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."

Abraham Lincoln portraitAbraham Lincoln portrait in the Massachusetts State House at 24 Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts on July 27, 2015 Now that I've visited all 48 state capitols within the continental United States, I've probably seen more portraits of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington than most people will ever see!