Photograph by Ed Pollard, Hasselblad H4D50 - 2014.

13th Amendment Photomontage

Artist George May Powell (American, 1835 - 1905)

Publisher Powell and Co. (American (New York))

Date1865

MediumAlbumen prints (stereocard)

Dimensions3 5/16 × 6 3/4 in. (8.4 × 17.1 cm)
Overall, Image: 2 7/8 × 2 1/2 in. (7.3 × 6.4 cm)

ClassificationsAmerican art

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number2014.12

On View

Not on view

DescriptionThis is a yellow stereocard with two albumen photographic prints affixed to it, each bearing an identical photomontage of political portraits. The card measures 3 5/16 x 6 3/4 inches, and each print is 2 7/8 x 2 1/2 inches. The center of each print features 159 photographic portraits arranged in an oval, with printed text below reading, “Entered According to Act of Congress in the year 1865 by Powell & Co., New York.” The card itself has no printed labeling, but its back is inscribed in graphite “Powell & Co. NY / 411-57 / t.”
Label TextGeorge May Powell American, 1835−1905 13th Amendment Photomontage, 1865 Albumen prints (photographs) This stereocard honors the 159 politicians who secured passage of 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which permanently abolished slavery. They include the 38 senators (in the outer rings) and the 117 congressmen (in the center) who heroically voted in favor of this controversial law, along with President Lincoln below and Vice President Hannibal Hamlin (1809−1891) at the top. To construct this elaborate montage, George Powell probably borrowed from Mathew Brady’s vast library of photographic portraits. Lincoln’s face is cropped from a picture taken by Brady’s cameraman Anthony Berger on February 9, 1864. The same portrait appears on the most recent designs for the five-dollar bill. Museum purchase 2014.12