Lincoln's Second Inaugural, 1865

This mural depicting President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address on March 4, 1865 was painted by artist Allyn Cox. The center scene in the mural shows President Lincoln on the steps of the East Portico of the just-completed United States Capitol. Seated behind Lincoln is Vice President Andrew Johnson and standing next to Johnson is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase. This historical image of the inauguration is buttressed by a painting of a Civil War-era soldier on the left, symbolizing sacrifice in the name of freedom and reunification, and an African American voter on the right, reinforcing the strength of the 15th Amendment and the right of African American men to vote. This mural resides in the Cox Corridors of the Capitol. Cox painted numerous murals throughout the Capitol and completed the "Frieze of American History" in the Capitol Rotunda that was originally started by Constantino Brumidi in 1878.