News
Events
Blogs
Life Studies of the Great Army (etchings) by Edwin Forbes
This folio contains 40 copper plate etchings illustrating Army life during the Civil War, which Forbes composed as an artist-reporter for "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper." These etchings are derived from his original pencil sketches made while he followed the Army of the Potomac...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Life Studies of the Great Army (etchings) By Edwin Forbes |
| Collection Number: | Bd.525.F.692 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Physical Description: |
0.3 Linear feet 0.3 linear feet, 1 box |
|---|---|
| Summary: |
This folio contains 40 copper plate etchings illustrating Army life during the Civil War, which Forbes composed as an artist-reporter for "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper." These etchings are derived from his original pencil sketches made while he followed the Army of the Potomac, which were compiled into a folio and published in 1876. The views offered in these prints cover a wide range of themes, including battle scenes, troop movements, soldiers taking breaks, meal preparation, camp life, and sweeping landscape views. The prints are individually titled, with sometimes-sarcastic commentary. The first proof of this folio was purchased by General William T. Sherman, and was donated to the United States government. Forbes won a medal at the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876 for this work.
Forbes was born in New York City and studied art with Arthur Tait. Forbes worked as an artist-field reporter for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper from 1861 to 1864. He covered major battles at Manassas, Petersburg, and Gettysburg. After the war, Forbes opened a studio in Brooklyn, and published "Thirty Years After: An Artist's Story of the Great War" in 1890. |