Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
"Barksdale's Mississippians opposing the laying of the pontoon Bridges."
Medium: Graphite and ink on paper
Date: ca. 1910
Dimensions:
14 1/4 × 10 7/8 in. (36.2 × 27.6 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.2500
Research Number: NCW: 2500
InscribedLower left: "Barksdale's Mississippians opposing the laying of the pontoon Bridges."; lower right within picture: N. C. W.
ProvenanceThe artist; descended in family
Exhibition HistoryChadds Ford, PA, Brandywine River Museum, "Romance in Conflict, N. C. Wyeth's Civil War Paintings," Jan. 22-March 20, 2011
Curatorial RemarksThis picture illustrates an incident in the Civil war that took place on December 11, 1862, when Union engineers on the bank of the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Virginia, began to ready equipment to construct a bridge across which to move troops. The force was opposed by Confederate Brigadier General William Barksdale's Mississippi brigade.
It is not known why Wyeth chose this subject to illustrate. The episode is described in Mary Johnston's book The Long Roll (p. 640), and it may be that Wyeth originally hoped that pen and ink drawings would be part of the illustrative program. But no other pen and ink drawings related to Johnston's story have been found.
It is not known why Wyeth chose this subject to illustrate. The episode is described in Mary Johnston's book The Long Roll (p. 640), and it may be that Wyeth originally hoped that pen and ink drawings would be part of the illustrative program. But no other pen and ink drawings related to Johnston's story have been found.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography directly from artwork
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 11/29/2006