American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

I have always enjoyed paintings of the Civil War as they offer a peek into the lives and battles of the era. I received a John Paul Strain "Heat at Catherine Furnace" and it is a great piece. It set me to wondering what are some of your favorite artists and paintings? Strains between battle paintings are alway so detailed and deep to me, while Don Troiani's paintings always seem to portray that "heat of battle" feel.
For instance "Saving the Flag" by Troiani

And "Battlefield Gettysburg" by Strain

"Escape from Ft. Donelson"(Strain)

"Shenandoah Crossing"(Strain)

Mort Kunstler is also quite worthy of mention:"The Bloody Angle"


What Artists and Paintings are your favorites?

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Lt. Col Joe R. Matthews
6th Brigade/3/III
Army of Northern VA

Here is a link to a painting I have always liked since I saw it on the cover of a Civil War Times-Illustrated many years ago.

It is by an artist named Howard Pyle, and the subject was the Battle of Nashville.

http://historicist.files.wordpress.com/ ... hville.jpg

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Troiani uses artistic license to the full - he is after all making a living by selling prints.
In "Garryowen" the 28th Mass are shown marching in step across a pontoon bridge - but troops always break step for a bridge.
In "Sons of Erin" he has Fr Corby, chaplain of the 88th NY giving absolution to the 69th. Corby was later chaplain to the entire Brigade, which by Gettysburg was less than 600 strong,
In another painting of Gettysburg he shows the flag of the 69th, yet the 3 NY regiments were fighting as a single battalion under the flag of the 88th (since Col Kelly of the 88th was commanding the Brigade). Why? - the 69th is better known after the WW1 film about them.

No one ever looks skinny enough, dirty enough, or scared enough, in most Civil war paintings. Rather they sell a myth. Has anyone ever painted the slave catchers who rode north into Maryland and Pennsylvania with the ANV?

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Ian Miller
bvt Lt Gen USV
3/XVI/AotT

I like Mort Kunstler's stuff, mostly because I haven't been exposed to much else. Not being able to afford anything real, I do get his calendars and frame some of those. I have two hanging my dining room.

Album art:

http://www.last.fm/music/The+New+Christy+Minstrels/Today

Realistic depiction of Union Troops

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General Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
AoT II/1/3 (CSA)

I don't buy a lot of paintings - actually, only one! And it is hanging in my guest room: http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/art/the-horse-marines.htm

To me, John Paul Strain's artwork doesn't look like paintings. It looks so real I sometimes think he just took a photograph at a Civil War reenactment. I do wonder where he found those doubles for his historic personas, though!

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General 'Dee Dubya' Mallory

Very nice painting.

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General Ernie Sands
President ACWGC -Sept 2015- Dec 2020
7th Brigade, 1st Division, XVI Corps, AoT
ACWGC Records Site Admin

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."

Favorite painting(s) ? The Cycloramas at Gettysburg and Atlanta. Has anyone ever seen prints of the lost Shiloh cyclorama? THAT would be a treasure to find, in some old warehouse or some such.
I take all modern commercial Civil War art at face value, and appreciate it as such. Life is too short to be counting buttons on a coat.
J

John Ferry
LTC 2/20th Corps

I had not seen Strain's work until now. I, too, think they are superbly rendered in a most realistic fashion! I will need to review more of his work as a result.

The cyclorama paintings, as John states, are in a class by themselves, incredible works that were produced from first-hand knowledge and painstakingly structured to historically reflect the actions as they happened. I've only seen hints of the Shiloh work as displayed, I think, within Time Life's The Civil War series.

Generally speaking I am most grateful for the accomplished artists who have, over the past 30 years or so, contributed their talents in visualizing the Amercian Civil War. Some errors of historical note were portrayed on occasion, it is true, but these are immaterial to the scope of work and images offered. Does anyone know where the bulk of these works might be displayed all together under one roof?

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General Jos. C. Meyer, ACWGC
Union Army Chief of Staff
Commander, Army of the Shenandoah
Commander, Army of the Tennessee
(2011-2014 UA CoA/GinC)

I have seen a few pictures of the cycloramas John, and they are incredible. The Shiloh one did look quite amazing even in black and white photographs. Each generation some historical treasures are lost, and others are found and restored. Such is life. Strain is quite talented, and takes special care to make certain his paintings are as accurate as possible. I wish I knew where to find some of these under one roof Joe, that would certainly be a good trip to make.

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Lt. Col Joe R. Matthews
6th Brigade/3/III
Army of Northern VA