1959 Oil on Canvas Painting “The Tlingit Lincoln" by Andrew William Vachon s.j.

Details

Description

Original Oil on Canvas Impasto Painting
“The Tlingit Lincoln”
Andrew William Vachon, S.J. (1910-1979)
Dated: September 1959

Offered for sale … Read more Original Oil on Canvas Impasto Painting
“The Tlingit Lincoln”
Andrew William Vachon, S.J. (1910-1979)
Dated: September 1959

Offered for sale is an original oil on canvas impasto painting titled “The Tlingit Lincoln”, created by noted Alaskan artist and Jesuit priest Andrew William Vachon, S.J. in September 1959. The painting is signed by the artist and titled on the reverse, where Vachon also notes that it is based on the original carving located at the former Juneau Museum in Alaska.

Rendered in the artist’s characteristic heavily textured impasto technique, the work depicts the celebrated Tlingit Lincoln Totem Pole, officially known as the “Proud Raven Pole.” Richly expressive and sculptural in its paint application, the composition captures the powerful visual language of Northwest Coast Indigenous art while emphasizing the weathered presence of the central carved figure.

The Tlingit Lincoln Totem Pole holds a unique place in Alaskan history. Carved in the 1880s by a leader of the Gaanax.ádi (Raven) Clan in Tongass, Alaska, the pole commemorates a significant historical event recorded in Tlingit oral tradition. According to the story, two rival clans—the Tongass Ravens and Kagwantan Eagles—made peace under the protection of the U.S.S. Lincoln, a U.S. revenue cutter that arrived in the region in 1868. The pole became famous for the carved figure of President Abraham Lincoln, depicted wearing a tall hat at its summit, symbolizing this historic reconciliation.

The reverse inscription reads in part: “Original stood on Tongass Is. — now at Juneau Museum, Ketchikan, Alaska, September 1959, Andrew Wm. Vachon S.J.”—providing fascinating period documentation and context directly from the artist.

Condition: Good original vintage condition with expected age-related wear. The painting presents beautifully with strong color, excellent texture, and no apparent restoration.

Dimensions:

Canvas: 24” x 20”
Unframed

A compelling mid-century Alaskan artwork combining regional history, Indigenous cultural themes, and Vachon’s distinctive impasto style. An excellent acquisition for collectors of Alaska art, Native American subjects, Northwest Coast imagery, or works by Andrew William Vachon, S.J.

Artist Biography – Andrew William Vachon

Andrew William Vachon (1910–1979) was an American Jesuit priest, artist, and educator whose work bridged spirituality, philosophy, and visual art. He pursued his academic studies at Gonzaga University, earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in philosophy in the mid-1930s.

Vachon later returned to Gonzaga in 1965, where he taught photography and served as the university’s artist-in-residence. Over the course of his career, he produced a diverse body of work including paintings, drawings, and prints, often inspired by landscape, memory, and theological reflection.

His artistic style is characterized by a deeply personal and “visionary” approach, blending observed reality with imaginative interpretation. His works frequently explore themes of place, spirituality, and the presence of the divine in everyday environments.

Vachon remained active as both an artist and educator until his death on June 1, 1979, at Gonzaga University. His legacy includes decades of creative output and a lasting influence within the Jesuit and Pacific Northwest artistic communities.

Andrew William Vachon’s work was notably exhibited in the “Vivid in My Mind” show at the Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, from September to December 2015. The exhibition featured about 70 paintings and drawings spanning four decades of his career. Additionally, some of his prints are held in the Whitman College and Northwest Archives in Walla Walla, Washington, and one of his oil paintings is in the collection of the Ketchikan Museums in Alaska. See less