🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Confederate Civil War Painting

[Cariboo5]

Looking for help to id this painting which appears to have some age to it, not sure if this could be 19thcentury, also do not know when and where this was done. All help and opinions on artist ( In the manner of – attributed to etc. ) possible time frame and location appreciated. I have researched the better known Civil War artists and have come up empty and have so far failed to find one like this. Original oil on board painting, image size 9 7/8 x 14 6/8 inch frame size 12 1/2 x 17 2/8 inch. Thanks in advance to all .....

 

[Gene Mean]

I think the signature could be under the mat or frame.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Cool picture, being Confederate and possibly Cavalry makes me think of my GG GF.

He, along with his cousin, served with the 1st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment, Company F, Cabarrus Rangers from May 1861 to Apr 1865.

ETA: Good Gawd there are a ton of Civil War inspired paintings from the period up to today.

 

[Retired Sarge]

I think the signature could be under the mat or frame.

Good point and suggestion.

 

[Cariboo5]

Gene Mean ... I should have mentioned in the first post that I did take the painting apart and no signature found, thanks for bringing that up..

Retired Sarge .. I'm hoping the artist board with it's plain back and size with the original patina will be a clue to the time frame of this painting.

 

[Mine Shaft]

From what i looked up it was painted by the renowned historical artist don Troiani. Titled "first North Carolina Cavalry 1861"

 

[Retired Sarge]

From what i looked up it was painted by the renowned historical artist don Troiani. Titled "first North Carolina Cavalry 1861"

Below is Don Troiani's "1st North Carolina Cavalry 1861" print. Which shows two Troopers dismounted and leading their charges to drink. Which is different than the OPs picture.

The OPs picture has a dismounted rider, leading a horse with a fallen soldier draped across the saddle

 

[Mine Shaft]

@Retired Sarge Yes it looks way different then the OP I took a photo with my phone and that is the info it gave me a long with the photo you posted.

 

[Retired Sarge]

@Retired Sarge Yes it looks way different then the OP I took a photo with my phone and that is the info it gave me a long with the photo you posted.

Have to be careful with image searching software. It told me the painting was of Don Quixote and his horse. Obviously it isn't.

I have a copy of Don Troiani's "1st North Carolina Cavalry 1861" packed away awaiting completion of the new man-cave. So I knew it wasn't that either.

 

[Mine Shaft]

I looked up the photo again and nothing showed the OPs print. But when i take a photo with my phone it says a print done by Don Troiani.

 

[Retired Sarge]

I looked up the photo again and nothing showed the OPs print. But when i take a photo with my phone it says a print done by Don Troiani.

I've looked at enough Confederate inspired prints in the last few days to have seen the entire Confederate Army and haven't come across an example of this painting.

Not definitively saying it is or isn't a Don Troiani painting. But I'm leaning towards not, and look forward to being proven wrong as always.

 

[Retired Sarge]

For the OP maybe check out a few Civil War forums, and see if one has an art section. Maybe they'd be able to shed light on this painting.

Maybe PM Red-Coat on the site and see if he has any input on the painting. @Red-Coat

 

[Cariboo5]

Mine Shaft and Retired Sarge ... a big thanks to both for taking your time to research, greatly appreciated...

This most definitely is not a painting or print by Don Troiani. It is an original from ? time frame ? and by ? all unknown's.
Crow had a good question about type of paint and from what I can see and tell it is an oil not acrylic painting. ( close up of paint texture attached)
I have been researching this for a month now and as you mentioned I also have not come across this painting anywhere.
Again thanks for your input & help and with a lot of luck one day this may be solved .....

 

[Cariboo5]

For the OP maybe check out a few Civil War forums, and see if one has an art section. Maybe they'd be able to shed light on this painting.

Maybe PM Red-Coat on the site and see if he has any input on the painting. @Red-Coat

Retired Sarge, I have been doing exactly that, some do not know and others do not reply back.

For me this is a very powerful painting of that event for these reasons...

An original oil painting on board depicting a Confederate Officer bringing back a deceased solider on horse back. The dark, gloomy expression on the officers face portrays the grim aftermath, the brutal realities of war with the emotional and psychological impacts of this historic conflict. The Confederate Officer's gesture of placing his left hand on the right side of his chest signifies a deep emotional connection. All of this has been expressed by the artist in a honorific manner.

The cross on the left side of the painting ( right side of the horse ) in the bush also signifies that this road has been travelled before for the same reason would be my guess as to why the artist put it there.

I just sent another inquiring email to the American Civil War Museum, hopefully they will answer one way or the other.

If there are more museums history sites etc with any knowledge of the civil war please post names and I will be sure to follow up as maybe... just maybe some one will know.

 

[Doubter in MD]

It appears to be painted on masonite with a fabric impression. If that is true, then my limited research on masonite/fiberboard makes it no older than mid-20th century.

 

[Cariboo5]

It appears to be painted on masonite with a fabric impression. If that is true, then my limited research on masonite/fiberboard makes it no older than mid-20th century.

That is a great observation and one that I did not consider. I think you are on to something here Doubter in MD which as you say would put this mid 20th century
and would answer one of the three questions and by having a time frame may answer the other two.... Appreciate your input .....

 

[Retired Sarge]

It's looking like it might be a one off original painting, obviously by a artist lost to time.

Looking at the subject matter, it makes me wonder. Is it merely a soldier giving final respect to a fellow fallen soldier.

Or perhaps a soldier given final respect to a fallen family member. My GG GF and his cousin served together as I stated earlier. I'm sure if one fell the other would have taken him home.

Regardless the painting is thought provoking as most conflict inspired work is and should be, regardless of the side one serves.

 

[Cariboo5]

Doubter in MD suggested Masonite with a fabric impression which would date this to the mid 20th century.

Crow has also mentioned 20t century from his knowledge.

I received a reply back from the American Civil War Museum and they also confirm mid 20th century or a bit earlier 1940's – 1950's.

I followed up on Masonite board with impressions and everything matched to the board on this painting, have to go with Doubter in MD on board and all on mid 20th century.

This is an excellent start as one of the questions has been answered putting this painting mid 20th century.

Crow also mentioned this may have been by an art school student practising styles and left unsigned. Excellent idea and another avenue that I can try and research in that time frame.....

 

[Cariboo5]

It's looking like it might be a one off original painting, obviously by a artist lost to time.

Looking at the subject matter, it makes me wonder. Is it merely a soldier giving final respect to a fellow fallen soldier.

Or perhaps a soldier given final respect to a fallen family member. My GG GF and his cousin served together as I stated earlier. I'm sure if one fell the other would have taken him home.

Regardless the painting is thought provoking as most conflict inspired work is and should be, regardless of the side one serves.

Retired Sarge, yes the painting is an original one of a kind by an unknown artist.

Your choice of words and putting it all in proper perspective is heart felt .... Thanks man ...

 

[Retired Sarge]

Your choice of words and putting it all in proper perspective is heart felt .... Thanks man ...

Thank you, it always amazes me, how a scene so serene and full of civility like this could be born of something so ugly.