Council of War

Small statue of three figures on a large rounded platform base, roughly "D" shaped, with one flat side toward back of base. President Lincoln is seated in a chair with his legs slightly crossed at the ankles, examining an unrolled map or document. Another map or document rests curled beneath the chair. To Lincoln's right stands Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, pointing to the map with the right hand while the left hand rests on the chair back. Grant is looking toward Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, who flanks the President's left side. Stanton stands with a handkerchief in his hand, looking down towards the map. Impressed around the front of the rounded base pedestal, in plain block lettering: "THE COUNCIL OF WAR". The artist's stamp, impressed on top surface of base, reads: "JOHN ROGERS; NEW YORK". Another mark impressed behind Grant's left foot reads: "PATENTED MARCH 31, 1868."John Rogers crafted the original "Council of War" statuette in 1867 (patented 1868), and it was one of thousands of small statues he produced in plaster soon after Lincoln's death. A Massachusetts native, Rogers became famous for sculpting groups of people, known as "Rogers' Groups", with "Council of War" being among the best known. This statue may be one of many reproductions made from the original and, thus, it possibly postdates the 1868 patenting date by many years