Francis Bicknell Carpenter - Portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln

Portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln

On February 12, 1929, the New York Times reported the discovery of a new painting of Mary Todd Lincoln. It reported that this painting was by Francis Bicknell Carpenter. This painting was reproduced in different biographies and books such as "Mary Lincoln: Wife and Widow" by Carl Sandburg, printed in 1932.

The discoverer, one Ludwig Pflum, aka Lew Bloom, sold it to the Lincoln family for about $2,000 to $3,000 US Dollars and he died about a year later. Pflum, a former vaudeville performer who dabbled in painting on the side, as Lew Bloom, claimed the painting of Mary Lincoln had not yet been presented and done in secret at the bequest of Mrs. Lincoln by the painter Francis Carpenter. After the assassination of President Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln refused it and the painting wento into private hands until he discovered it.

This painting remained in the family until 1976, then estimated at a value of about $400,000 US dollars, when it was given to the Illinois State Historical Library, now named the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. During a 2011 restoration by art conservator Barry Bauman, it was found to be a forgery. An original oil portrait of an unknown woman, painted circa the 1860s, was modified by painting out a crucifix, adding an Abraham Lincoln brooch with other adjustments such as forging Francis Bicknell Carpenter's signature. Mr. Bauman is quoted to say, "Not only is it not Mary Lincoln, it's not Francis Carpenter."