Ritchie, AH; Engraving, The First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. An engraving of President Lincoln and His Cabinet. Entitled The First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation Before the Cabinet, the scene depicts Lincoln and his cabinet, Edwin M. Stanton, Salmon P. Chase, Gideon Wells, Caleb Smith, William H. Seward, Montgomery Blair, and Edward Bates, contemplating the first reading of thehistoric decree. Printed below the title is From the original picture painted at the White House in 1864. Francis B. Carpenter (1830 to 1900) worked on the painting from February through July 1864. A staunchabolitionist, Carpenter explained in his book Six Months at the White House that he placed each man in the painting in relation to his stand on slavery. In 1878, Carpenter sold the painting to Elizabeth Thompson, who donatedit to the U.S. Capitol, where it hangs today. This engraving was executed by A.H. Ritchie (of New York) circa 1866. Minor imperfections in right corner not affecting the integrity of the engraving. Archival matting -