The Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson

Mike Serpa

Major
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
The Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson - Everett B.D. Julio
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Owner/Location: Museum of the Confederacy (United States - Richmond, Virginia)
Dates: 1869
Artist age: Approximately 26 years old.
Dimensions: Height: 274.32 cm (108 in.), Width: 182.88 cm (72 in.)
Medium: Painting - oil on canvas

http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/de...+has+one+artwork+in+our+database.++This+is+it.
 
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Mark Twain had a famous reaction to the painting and in particular to its title:

we saw…a fine oil-painting representing Stonewall Jackson’s last interview with General Lee. Both men are on horseback. Jackson has just ridden up, and is accosting Lee. The picture is very valuable, on account of the portraits, which are authentic. But like many another historical picture, it means nothing without its label. And one label will fit it as well as another:

First Interview between Lee and Jackson.

Last Interview between Lee and Jackson.

Jackson introducing himself to Lee.

Jackson Accepting Lee’s Invitation to Dinner.

Jackson Declining Lee’s Invitation to Dinner–with Thanks.

Jackson Apologizing for a Heavy Defeat.

Jackson Reporting a Great Victory.

Jackson Asking Lee for a Match.

It tells one story, and a sufficient one; for it says quite plainly and satisfactorily, “Here are Lee and Jackson together.” The artist would have made it tell that this is Lee and Jackson’s last interview if he could have done it. But he couldn’t, for there wasn’t any way to do it. A good legible label is usually worth, for information, a ton of significant attitude and expression in a historical picture.
 
And who are the three gentlemen in the shadows on the right hand side? Any ideas?

They maybe could give a hint what occasion was portrayed here, so that Mark Twain would not have had to be in doubt of the correct label. I think it was one specific occasion that was meant, not just a fictional meeting between two charismatic Confederate leaders.
 
Mark Twain had a famous reaction to the painting and in particular to its title:

we saw…a fine oil-painting representing Stonewall Jackson’s last interview with General Lee. Both men are on horseback. Jackson has just ridden up, and is accosting Lee. The picture is very valuable, on account of the portraits, which are authentic. But like many another historical picture, it means nothing without its label. And one label will fit it as well as another:

First Interview between Lee and Jackson.

Last Interview between Lee and Jackson.

Jackson introducing himself to Lee.

Jackson Accepting Lee’s Invitation to Dinner.

Jackson Declining Lee’s Invitation to Dinner–with Thanks.

Jackson Apologizing for a Heavy Defeat.

Jackson Reporting a Great Victory.

Jackson Asking Lee for a Match.

It tells one story, and a sufficient one; for it says quite plainly and satisfactorily, “Here are Lee and Jackson together.” The artist would have made it tell that this is Lee and Jackson’s last interview if he could have done it. But he couldn’t, for there wasn’t any way to do it. A good legible label is usually worth, for information, a ton of significant attitude and expression in a historical picture.

Leave it to Mark Twain to come up with some witty comment. It's still a great painting anyway.
 
One of my favorite cw paintings. Makes me wonder had Lee known that the battle would cost him Jackson's life would he have still fought it? Duty or friendship?
 
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