While monuments typically idealize heroism or tragedy, George Grey Barnard’s controversial Abraham Lincoln in Lytle Park does the opposite. At its unveiling in 1917, this 11-foot bronze statue, commissioned by Charles and Anna Taft, sparked much debate. Rather than depicting the Great Emancipator, the Lawyer, or the President, Barnard portrayed the everyday man. Lincoln’s wrinkled face, veined hands, worn clothing, and placement on a boulder do not suggest the honor of the beloved bearded and top-hatted Lincoln. Viewers considered the “grotesque” depiction dishonest, “anti-Lincoln,” and, by extension, “anti-American.” However, this non-idealized monument is beloved by Cincinnatians today.

Dickson, Harold E. “George Grey Barnard’s Controversial Lincoln.” Art Journal 27, no. 1 (Autumn 1967): 8–15, 19, 23. https://doi.org/10.2307/775185.