Chief Judge Evans unveils Lincoln portrait for Illinois Bicentennial

Press Release |

In advance of the Illinois bicentennial celebration on December 3, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will unveil a portrait of Abraham Lincoln that will be displayed in the Jury Assembly Room of the Richard J. Daley Center.    

The portrait is being donated to the Circuit Court of Cook County by the following organizations: the Illinois Judges Association, the Illinois Judges Foundation, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Illinois State Historical Society. The five organizations are installing the photograph of Lincoln in every one of the state’s 102 counties by the end of this year.

The canvas photograph measures 30 by 40 inches and was considered to be Lincoln’s favorite portrait of himself. The beardless Lincoln sat for the Chicago photographer Alexander Hesler on June 3, 1860, at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.This was the official portrait of presidential candidate Lincoln. At the time, the portrait was widely reproduced so Americans could see what Lincoln looked like.

The unveiling will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27 in the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., 17th floor Jury Assembly Room.

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