Featured Stonewall Stonewall Jackson in Popular Art

I need a little help, here.

I have noticed that some of Kunstler's work depicts the officers in their historical image, and some of them are a likeness of the movie actors. I definitely do not want the movie versions.

I started with these postcards (I always start small until the full weight of the obsession kicks in):

1. "The Return of Stuart"
2. "I Will Be Moving Within an Hour"
3. "Steady, Boys, Steady"
4. "Last Council at Chancellersville"
5 (I REALLY want "Tactics and Strategy" but did not find it)

*Obsession kicking in*

I than noticed that Kunstler has 4 Volumes of photo books, BUT, I do not know if they contain the aforementioned postcard paintings OR if any of the Gods and Generals paintings are mixed in.

To further confuse my matter (gray that is or is it Gray?) I noticed that there is yet ANOTHER book:

Jackson and Lee: Legends in Gray

Unable to preview this book on Amazon, I find myself wondering if it contains the 5 paintings I really like....

Any input to this convolution is greatly appreciated,

B
 
I need a little help, here.

I have noticed that some of Kunstler's work depicts the officers in their historical image, and some of them are a likeness of the movie actors. I definitely do not want the movie versions.

I started with these postcards (I always start small until the full weight of the obsession kicks in):

1. "The Return of Stuart"
2. "I Will Be Moving Within an Hour"
3. "Steady, Boys, Steady"
4. "Last Council at Chancellersville"
5 (I REALLY want "Tactics and Strategy" but did not find it)

*Obsession kicking in*

I than noticed that Kunstler has 4 Volumes of photo books, BUT, I do not know if they contain the aforementioned postcard paintings OR if any of the Gods and Generals paintings are mixed in.

To further confuse my matter (gray that is or is it Gray?) I noticed that there is yet ANOTHER book:

Jackson and Lee: Legends in Gray

Unable to preview this book on Amazon, I find myself wondering if it contains the 5 paintings I really like....

Any input to this convolution is greatly appreciated,

B

Unfortunately I'm unable to answer these questions myself - hopefully there is someone who can. Kunstler has never been one of my favorites, partly for the very reasons you mention, so I've never really researched his work other than casually. Your best bet - which I can tell you well know - is to not buy anything without seeing a copy first. I think Kunstler is a fine portraitist, as long as it's the historical persons he's depicting, but I don't always care for his palette or composition. (Jackson at Antietam's Dunker Church comes to mind.)
 
Thank you, kindly, for your response.

I could not agree with you more about the "Jackson at Antietam's Dunker Church" I did not order that card, because I did not like the composition.

Can you suggest any of the CW artist collection books that you are familiar with, so that I have a starting point with my investigations? It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume out there.

Regards,

B
 
Thank you, kindly, for your response.

I could not agree with you more about the "Jackson at Antietam's Dunker Church" I did not order that card, because I did not like the composition.

Can you suggest any of the CW artist collection books that you are familiar with, so that I have a starting point with my investigations? It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume out there.

Regards,

B

Did you check Kunstler's official website? It's extremely useful and complete.
 
Not sure this one qualifies... or even what it really means... but I kind of like it...
1577075-8.jpg


too bad it's already sold.
http://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Stonewall-Jackson/584300/2317134/view

Glad this thread got bumped as I had missed it before and have enjoyed looking at all of the previous posts...
 

Attachments

  • 1577075-8.jpg
    1577075-8.jpg
    148.1 KB · Views: 50
Last edited:
Can you suggest any of the CW artist collection books that you are familiar with, so that I have a starting point with my investigations? It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume out there.

Regards,

B
Sometimes the obvious eludes me

Thanks!

B

Since I'm partial to Troiani, mainly due to the accuracy of his detail of uniforms, weapons, etc., I'd recommend looking for his many books on Amazon. Some are books of art, but many of his works appear in books on uniforms and various units as well.
 
I am really glad that I waited to order anything until I looked through the rest of the images on this thread. I really liked the battle scenes done by Troiani.

This holiday weekend, I will be doing quite a bit of book surfing so that I can make up my mind. I have to say that it is a really neat come-to-life to read passages about certain battles, and then look at the paintings depicting them.

I really appreciate the input.

Regards,

B
 
I am really glad that I waited to order anything until I looked through the rest of the images on this thread. I really liked the battle scenes done by Troiani.

This holiday weekend, I will be doing quite a bit of book surfing so that I can make up my mind. I have to say that it is a really neat come-to-life to read passages about certain battles, and then look at the paintings depicting them.

I really appreciate the input.

Regards,

B
IMO Don Troiani is the best and he has several nice books out there to purchase and then stare at for hours lol
 
It turns out that Don Troiani is who I chose to go with. On order is Don Troiani's Civil War , and yes, it is amazing how much time I have burned up on just looking through the books on the internet. There is just not enough time in the day, so sleep is sacrificed!
 
Jackson and Turner Ashby by John Paul Strain
Stonewalls-return-lg900 by Strain.jpg

Stonewall's Return depicts Jackson's arrival back at his Winchester headquarters following the January, 1862 Romney Campaign. Another depicting this campaign is Bridge at Romney below, which has been posted here previously.

bridge-at-romney Strain.jpg


Scarlet Sky by Strain.jpg

Scarlet Sky shows Jackson receiving a salute from Brig. Gen. Issac Trimble.

Apples_For_Ashby-large Strain.jpg


The commander of Jackson's cavalry in the Shenandoah, Brig. Gen. Turner Ashby is obviously another Strain favorite; I'll repeat the previously posted Apples for Ashby above and The Christmas Gift below which feature both generals receiving welcome relief from Southern belles. One imagines Ashby will not be the only one to enjoy the apples!

Southern_Hospitality by Strain.jpg


knight-of-the-valley-900L John Paul Strain.jpg


Ashby by himself is the subject of two of Strain's more dramatic canvases, Knight of the Valley above, and Farewell Ranger - The Battle of Tom's Brook below.

Farewell Ranger - TomsBrook_large Strain.jpg


The Christmas Gift below doesn't feature either of the generals but since it's set in front of the courthouse at Winchester it obviously depicts an incident in the Valley.

JohnPaulStrain-TheChristmasGift.jpg
 
Last edited:
Jackson and Turner Ashby by John Paul Strain
View attachment 94275
Stonewall's Return depicts Jackson's arrival back at his Winchester headquarters following the January, 1862 Romney Campaign. Another depicting this campaign is Bridge at Romney below.

View attachment 94272

View attachment 94278
Scarlet Sky shows Jackson receiving a salute from Brig. Gen. Issac Trimble.

View attachment 94273

The commander of Jackson's cavalry in the Shenandoah, Brig. Gen. Turner Ashby is obviously another Strain favorite; Apples for Ashby above and The Christmas Gift below feature both generals receiving welcome relief from Southern belles. One imagines Ashby will not be the only one to enjoy the apples!

View attachment 94276

View attachment 94277

Ashby by himself is the subject of two of Strain's more dramatic canvases, Knight of the Valley above, and Farewell Ranger - The Battle of Tom's Brook below.

View attachment 94274

The Christmas Gift below doesn't feature either of the generals but since it's set in front of the courthouse at Winchester it obviously depicts an incident in the Valley.

View attachment 94279

Good stuff James. Ashby is also one of my favorites. Thank you
 
Terrific stuff... thanks for posting these, all fantastice works, although for my taste Knight of the Valley comes across as just a teeny bit too heavy on the "messianic hero" side... but that's just my humble and uneducated opinion.
 
Ashby by himself is the subject of two of Strain's more dramatic canvases, Knight of the Valley above, and Farewell Ranger - The Battle of Tom's Brook below.

John Paul Strain is amazing especially when it comes to horses. Knight of the Valley is one of my favorites as well at this one.

To-The-Lost-Ford-B.jpg


It's called "The Lost Ford" I came dangerously close to an impulse buy the last time I was in Gettysburg. It's amazing.
 
...It's called "The Lost Ford" I came dangerously close to an impulse buy the last time I was in Gettysburg. It's amazing.

Of course the last time I was in Gettysburg I got the print in the beginning of this thread; on the most recent visit before that back in the 1990's, when in the Horse Soldier shop I succumbed and bought Troiani's The Boy Colonel depicting Col. Henry King Burgwin of North Carolina on July 1 at Gettysburg:

the-boy-colonel-jpg.jpg
 

Attachments

  • the-boy-colonel-jpg.jpg
    the-boy-colonel-jpg.jpg
    125.4 KB · Views: 51
I had the privilege of knowing some of these artists back in the day before they became successful and household names. With each artist, some paintings I like and some paintings I don't like.

When it comes to the Civil War I like Don Troiani and Rick Reeves. Both of these gentlemen do other time periods as well and Troiani has done some great Revolutionary War art.

I enjoy artwork from other conflicts, and two artists I like are James Dietz and Ron Marshall. Marshall specializes in the WW I Australian Light Horse.

@Bee, postcards and books are nice, but the original paintings are even better.
 
Mort Kunstler Jackson and Lee: Legends in Gray
DSC04209.JPG


I don't know whether these are really "art" or - more likely! - just kitsch, but this past weekend at my favorite huge East Texas flea market, Canton First Monday Trade Days I found these ca. mid-1990's Mort Kunstler collector plates to adorn the Troiani print I posted last. They're from a series titled Jackson and Lee: Legends in Gray and I bought all 4 for the princely sum of $20! Unfortunately, like most "bargains" like this, I've wound up paying over twice that to get 2 more on Ebay to fill the space at bottom. There are a DOZEN of these altogether - Kunstler, like other "collectibles" artists including the ever-popular Painter of Light, the late Thomas Kinkade, who was as much a marketer of his work as an artist and has created literally scores of knock-offs like these.

Somehow, I think I actually like most of these better as plates than as prints; titles of the four I bought are The Generals Were Brought to Tears, depicting both Lee and Jackson attending a camp revival meeting; Lee (and Longstreet) at Fredericksburg; Jackson at Antietam; and Jackson at Harpers Ferry riding with his staff through the town at night. (Sorry for the poor quality of the photos!)

DSC04210.JPG
DSC04211.JPG
 
Last edited:
Back
Top