Bust of Abraham Lincoln

Installed in memory of Renée Johnson, founder of the Paris-Chicago Committee, this bust of Abraham Lincoln celebrates Franco-American friendship and the bond between the sister cities of Chicago and Paris. 

Historical Significance

Chicago, one of Paris’s sister cities, played a defining role in Abraham Lincoln’s rise to political prominence. Between 1847 and 1859, the young lawyer frequently visited the city, arguing landmark cases that shaped its development, including those influencing the northern Loop and the expansion of the railroad. In 1860, Chicago was the site of Lincoln’s nomination as the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidency. The Chicago Press and Tribune was among the first major newspapers to endorse him, and his nomination at the Wigwam building—a specially constructed wooden auditorium—was met with widespread celebration.

During the Civil War, historian Mary Livermore persuaded Lincoln to donate his original Emancipation Proclamation to the Chicago Sanitary Commission, underscoring the city’s role in the Union cause. Sadly, Chicago also became part of Lincoln’s final journey, as it welcomed his funeral procession on May 1–3, 1865, following his assassination.

About the Artwork

The chosen sculpture is a bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln cast from an original plaster made by Alfonso Iannelli (1888–1965), an Italian-American artist known for his fusion of art nouveau and cubism. Iannelli was based in Chicago for most of his life, and his works left a lasting artistic imprint on the city, making his depiction of Lincoln particularly meaningful. Initiated by the Paris-Chicago Committee, the project has received support from the City of Paris, the U.S. Ambassador to France and the Consul General of France in Chicago.

The Installation

The bust has been installed at Place Paul-Emile Victor, at the intersection of Avenue George V and Rue François 1er in the 8th arrondissement. Its location, just steps from the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and near the offices of French Heritage Society, underscores the deep cultural and historical ties between France and the United States.