Greg Lyons’ drawings of Lincoln in (from left) 1858, 1860 and 1863
The City Hall Art Committee welcomes the work of pen and ink artist Greg Lyons to the Rotunda of Murfreesboro’s City Hall through March 15. Featuring 19 oversized portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the exhibit will also feature process-specific detail regarding the art of pen and ink while also describing the art chronology of the exhibit’s solo artist.
Addressing his work on Abraham Lincoln, Lyons attributes the work of Robert Terry for the inspiration that led him to produce what he calls the Abraham Lincoln Portrait Collection. Initially comprised of 37 separate images of Lincoln in different poses throughout the 1850s and 1860s, it is easy to admire the work while also noting the pen-and-ink portrayal of decline in the President’s health due to the Civil War and the likely effects of the connective-tissue genetic disorder known as Marfan syndrome.
The exhibit also showcases Lyons’ renderings of President George Washington. Exhibiting the same bold, oversized approach as the Lincoln collection, the Washington portraits provide a side-by-side comparison and artistic interpretive look of America’s first President throughout his public life.
To provide the public with greater detail regarding the art of pen and ink, Lyon has put together a presentation of photographs and images to explain the level of commitment and time it took for him to produce this truly unique collection of work on two of America’s most beloved Presidents.
All exhibits of art in the City Hall Rotunda are open to the public at no charge during City Hall’s regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. City Hall is located at 111 W. Vine St., Murfreesboro. For more information call (615) 893-5210.
