Empire Zouave?

[Brendan]

Interesting portrait on Flickr. I think it's a photograph that's been heavily colorized to the point that it's essentially a painting. Well done regardless. Does anyone recognize the uniform? His belt buckle says "EMPIRE," so I'm guessing he could be a member of the Empire Zouaves, Co. B, 66th New York Infantry.

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thelostgallery/14508413797/

 

[AndyHall]

That's a good guess. I do think this is an original painting, though. You can see the framing marked and a signature, lower left, "A. Cabel" with what looks like 1862. What a great image!

 

[matthew mckeon]

Should his waistcoat and trousers be red, then?

 

[Brendan]

That might just be a stylized image of a generic zouave, not specifically based off the Empire Zouaves. Or the unit might have had multiple incarnations of its uniform. The same picture was also used in this recruitment poster for the 132nd New York:
Expired Image Removed

 

[AndyHall]

Sorry, I posted that broadside as a colorful reference to the Empire Zouaves. They were only a single company, I gather, so images relating to them would be few and far between. Didn't intend it as either confirmation or refutation of the uniform.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Large Union Civil War portrait, oil on canvas, depicting a Union soldier in the foreground in blue uniform with white belt buckle reading "EMPIRE" (the Empire belt buckle possibly denoting a Union Zouave regiment.) Soldier is standing and holding his rifle with a war encampment in the background. Signed and dated lower left, "A. Cable, 1902". Housed in an elaborate carved gilt roccoco frame. Sight – 39 1/4" H x 29" W. Framed – 53" H x 43 1/2" W. Private Knoxville, Tennessee collection. Condition: Minor tears near elbow on right side, near left fold crease and above signature, cracquelure of paint above left shoulder. Four slight fold creases. Minor losses of paint and wear to frame.
Sold for $696.00

http://caseantiques.com/item/lot-66...-portrait-oil-on-canvas/#sthash.GZzaTkNt.dpuf

 

[Brendan]

You're muddying the waters here, Andy! MUDDYING THE WATERS!

(kidding)

Actually, to do more damage myself, I just saw that part of the 51st NY was also called the "Empire Zouaves:"
http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/nicknames.htm

New York being the Empire State, there were various units with "Empire" in their names. A member of the "Empire Fire Co." might also have worn his company's belt buckle on his military uniform. So there could be a few possibilities.

 

[Pat Young]

You're muddying the waters here, Andy! MUDDYING THE WATERS!

(kidding)

Actually, to do more damage myself, I just saw that part of the 51st NY was also called the "Empire Zouaves:"
http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/nicknames.htm

New York being the Empire State, there were various units with "Empire" in their names. A member of the "Empire Fire Co." might also have worn his company's belt buckle on his military uniform. So there could be a few possibilities.

We are the Empire State, bow down before us!

 

[John Winn]

We are the Empire State, bow down before us!

I don't know; y'all dress funny.

 

[Brendan]

I don't know; y'all dress funny.

I don't know what you're talking about.