Alban Jasper Conant (1821-1915): The Lincoln Portrait and Beyond Alban Jasper Conant (September 24, 1821 – February 3, 1915) stands as a singular figure in American art history—primarily recognized for his groundbreaking portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the first official likeness of the future president. However, to reduce Conant’s artistic legacy solely to this iconic image overlooks a rich and multifaceted career spanning decades of exploration into Missouri's landscape and culture, alongside significant contributions to archaeological scholarship. Born in Chelsea, Vermont, he embodied the sp…