[Thaddeus Stevens Lying in State in the Rotunda of the Capitol at Washington]

Art Historical Context

In August 1868, photographer Alexander Gardner captured a solemn moment in American history with his albumen silver print, *Thaddeus Stevens in State in the Rot of the Capitol at Washington The image depicts the Radical Republican congressman and fierce abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens, who had died just days earlier on August 11. As a key architect of Reconstruction and champion of civil rights for freed slaves, Stevens' body was honored with a rare lying-in-state ceremony in the U.S Capitol Rotunda—a privilege typically reserved for presidents and military heroes—underscoring his monumental influence during the turbulent post-Civil War era. Gardner's photograph, measuring a modest 16.8 x 20.5 cm, masterfully employs the albumen silver process from a glass negative, a technique that yielded sharp details, rich tonal range, and subtle highlights in dimly lit interiors. This medium was revolutionary for documentary photography, allowing Gardner—famed for his Civil War battlefield images—to preserve intimate glimpses of national mourning. The composition likely includes evocative elements like coffins, mourners, and nods to Abraham Lincoln, evoking the era's profound grief and resolve. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection, this print not only chronicles a pivotal figure's legacy but also highlights photography's emerging role in shaping public memory during Reconstruction. Visitors are invited to reflect on Stevens' unyielding fight for equality amid the Rotunda's grandeur.

About the Artist

Alexander Gardner · 1840–1882

Alexander Gardner was born on 17 October 1821 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and came of age in a culture shaped by radical social thought. Influenced by the cooperative ideals of Robert Owen, Gardner initially apprenticed as a jeweler and harbored dreams of founding a utopian community in America. His encounter with photography changed the course of his life. After seeing Mathew Brady's cele...