The Carving - Abraham Lincoln

A major question confronting Borglum was whether to carve Lincoln with or without a beard. South Dakota Senator Norbeck, who had always been greatly impressed with Borglum's large, beardless head of Lincoln in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., had urged him to carve a clean shaven face. After studying Clark Mill's life mask of Lincoln, as well as many photographs, the sculptor elected to portray Lincoln with the beard he wore during he presidency.