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"Winfield Scott. Lieut. General, Commanding U.S. Army." New York: Charles Magnus, 1858. Two tone lithograph. Oval portrait, ca. 15 1/4 x 13. Very good condition.
Though first issued just before the war, this portrait shows Scott, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army, as he was at the beginning of the conflict. Though he did not play a very active role in the war, his image as America's military leader was very important through the war, and so portraits such as this would have graced many homes at the time. $175
W.L. Ormsby. "Maj. Gen. Geo. B. M'Clellan, Late Commanding United States Army." New York: Joseph Lang, ca. 1862-63. 22 1/4 x 16 7/8. Steel engraving by W.L. Ormsby. Excellent condition.
A handsome, full length portrait of George McClellan mounted on a horse in full uniform. The image was drawn and engraved by W.L. Ormsby, who issued a number of historical images around the middle of the century. This is a second state of this print, which has "Late" added to the title. This shows that the print was original issued when McClellan was commanding the army, but was reissued, with the addition, even after he had been dismissed in early 1862. $350
Christian Schussele. "Maj. Gen. Geo. B. McClellan on the Battlefield of Antietam." Philadelphia: William Smith, 1863. Copyrighted by John Dainty, 1863. Steel engraving by A.B. Walter. 24 x 18 1/2. One expertly repaired tear at left, just into image. Else very good condition.
A strong full portrait on horse of the former commander of the Army of the Potomac, beautifully engraved by A.B. Walter. McClellan was popular with the military because he built a strong force and provided well for his officers and men. He had to be replaced because the civilian leaders saw that he did not pursue his enemy to a conclusion of hostilities. Having every advantage at the Battle of Antietam, he failed to pursue Lee's defeated army and lost an opportunity to end the war. This steel engraving might also have been used in 1864 when McClelland ran for the presidency on a ticket calling for peace. The 1863 date of Schussele's painting adds a sad note because that was the year when the artist, best known for his "Washington Crossing the Delaware," was struck with palsy and could paint no more. A strong and lovely piece of American history. $525
"Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman." New York: Wm. Pate, 1862-65. Steel engraving by H[enry] B[ryan] Hall. 23 3/4 x 19 1/2. Some age browning but generally very good condition.
William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) was promoted to Major General of United States Volunteers in May of 1862 and became commander of the District of Memphis under General Grant in July. He campaigned under Grant at Vicksburg and then the Chattanooga Campaign. When Grant went to Washington to become commander of all Union armies, Sherman succeeded him as commander in chief of the entire western military operations. Following with his Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and his Carolina campaign earned him a reputation of a great military strategist and leader. Within this time frame this heroic print was published in New York to celebrate his accomplishments. The publisher used an older plate from the time of the Mexican War which probably showed Winfield Scott, burnished off the previous head, and replaced it with the visage of Sherman from a photograph. The nimbus which remains is testament to that transfer. The uniforms of the cavalrymen in the background are more suitable to the previous war than the Civil War. Still, it is an excellent, strong portrait of this great general. $675
'From an original daguerreotype.' "Lieut. General U.S. Grant." Philadelphia: Wm. Smith, [1864-5]. Mezzotint by John Sartain. 21 x 15 1/2. Very good condition.
In March of 1864 after Grant's success in Tennessee around Chattanooga Ulysses Simpson Grant (1822-1885) was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. He was soon to be transferred to the eastern front where he took over command of the Army of the Potomac. The face and head used in this portrait probably was taken from a photograph as the credit alleges. The body, his horse, and ordnance surrounding Grant was taken from a previous print done in 1848 which was a portrait of Major General Zachery Taylor. Demand for portraits of the seemingly frequent new Union leaders was filled in this case by altering an older steel plate and using the elements that were still useful. Depiction of the soldiers in the background was changed to show uniforms of the Civil War rather than the Mexican War; however, the older design of the cannon at bottom right was retained. Still, a handsome and strong portrayal of Grant the new commander and future president. $425
Max Rosenthal. "Maj. Gen. Wm. T. Sherman." Philadelphia: William Smith, 1865. Lithograph by L.N. Rosenthal. 28 3/4 x 22 1/2 (full sheet). Excellent condition.
A large and bold half portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) in uniform and surrounded by accoutrements of war. After Grant he was the most successful of the Union generals due to his Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and finally the Carolina Campaign. As commander of military operations in the West he accepted the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston on 26 April 1865, soon afterward, this print was published. Seeing Sherman during the last weeks of the war Theodore Lyman described him as "the concentrated quintessence of Yankeedom . . . tall, spare, and sinewy, with a very long neck and big head . . . all his features express determination particularly the mouth." Many historians consider Sherman the best military leader of the war. The portrait was drawn by Max Rosenthal, a Russian emigrant who followed the Army of the Potomac and drew many Civil War scenes. $450
E. Valois. "Grant and his Generals." New York: Thomas Kelly, 1866. Lithograph printed by Wm. C. Robertson. 18 1/4 x 26 3/4. Very good condition. Framed.
A unusual group portrait of 27 Union generals. Grant sits near the center, next to Meade and nearby Sherman. Though issued just after the war in 1866, the generals come from different periods. For instance, the image includes General John Sedgwick, the highest ranking officer killed in the war (whose famous last words were, "They couldn't hit an elephant from this distance…"). The faces are all based on life photographs. A portrait of Washington hangs on the wall and the room is decorated by patriotic bunting. Outside one window can be seen conically shapes which probably represent tents, and out the other window is one of the Union's ironclad ships. Currier & Ives produced a similar print, but this is the first time we've seen this excellent image by Thomas Kelly. $950
William Sartain. "Major Gen. P.H. Sheridan." Philadelphia: Wm. Sartain, ca. 1868. 10 1/2 x 9 1/4. Mezzotint by William Sartain. Wide margins. Strong impression. Very good condition.
A handsome portrait of General Sheridan, produced in the mezzotint process by William Sartain, one of the foremost American practitioner of this elaborate printmaking process for the production of historical prints. His prints always have a strong and rich texture that enhances their aesthetic qualities considerably, and the images are always historically quite accurate. This combination makes prints by William Sartain most desirable, and this example is no exception. $325
"General Ulysses S. Grant." Chicago: Kurz & Allison, ca. 1880. Large folio. Lithograph. Some slight discoloration and repaired tears in margins. Overall, very good condition.
The Chicago firm of Kurz & Allison is well remembered for its production of commemorative prints using the latest technological advances. Founded in 1885, their avowed purpose was to design "for large scale establishments of all kinds, and in originating and placing on the market artistic and fancy prints of the most elaborate workmanship." Elaborate they certainly were, and they well represented the artistic taste of their period. Many of the prints from the firm were of the Civil War, but they included other important scenes of American history and a few portraits such as this print showing Grant as a General during the Civil War. The scene is very similar to those used for Ehrgott & Forbriger's famous series of Civil War portraits (cf. above), but on a larger scale. $450
Go to list of other Civil War portraits by Ehrgott & Forbriger
Go to list of other Civil War portraits by Ehrgott & Forbriger
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