Civil War Paintings of Mort Kunstler: Vol. 2: Fredericksburg to Gettysburg (Hardcover)

by M. Kunstler (Author)
Key Phrases: North Carolina, Army of the Potomac, Jeb Stuart (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Kunstler, one of the premier painters of the American past, creates vividly detailed, dramatically realistic depictions of battlefields, officers, campsites, townsfolk, other players and decisive moments in this second volume of a planned four-part series that will eventually cover the entire span of the War Between the States. His brushstrokes blend history and humanity into pieces of masterful artwork that almost fool your eyes into thinking they're photographs." --Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine, July 2007

Product Description
For nearly thirty years, Mort Künstler has focused his considerable talent on interpreting the Civil War. In crafting his work to reflect poignant moments or critical instances of the conflict, he has turned to leading historians and scholars -- such as Henry Steele Commager, James McPherson, William C. Davis, and James I. Robertson Jr. -- for informative details that he has then translated on canvas to create an indelible image of this defining ordeal in America's history. More than 160 of these images -- supplemented by preliminary sketches, early studies, and photographs of works in progress -- are the basis for the four volumes in this series.
Künstler has also explored the human side of this national struggle. Thus, he has produced thoughtful studies of leaders at decisive moments, instances of daily camp life for the soldiers, and those early romantic notions that it would be a bloodless war, predicated on the belief that a show of inner strength would prevail.
Historian James I. Robertson Jr. recently noted, "Among the handful who truly sense the human, indelible element of that war is Mort Künstler. That alone goes far in explaining why he is the premier Civil War artist of our time, if not all time. ...His subjects are widely appealing to the eye and to the mind. [He] pursues accuracy to an extent that would make some historians blush."
In the past twenty years, Künstler's portfolio has been published in twelve books, including companion pieces for the epic films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. These paintings are reproduced here along with a lively history of the war.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing; Vol. 2 edition (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581825579
• ISBN-13: 978-1581825572
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #456,651 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book could be used as a resource for history and art classes, October 30, 2008

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The more I look and read through the civil war paintings of Mort Kunstler, the more impressed and amazed I am. His attention to detail is commendable and amazing. Relying on photos and entries in diaries and journals, he is so precise that he accurately depicts the change of uniform of Stonewall Jackson, even down to the gold braid.
Each painting is accompanied by a textual description of the scene, the location, circumstances, his research findings and why he used those particular colors and scene structure. The combination of painting and historical background could be used in either a history or art class. For many of the paintings, he blows up sections and gives specifics as to what is happening, why he chose to depict it in that manner and the significance of the sub event.
These paintings depict the second phase of the American Civil War, largely from the side of the Confederacy, few paintings depict Union troops or events. Furthermore, the emphasis is on the exploits of the army under General Robert E. Lee and his sub commanders. It was a time when the Confederate armies were largely victorious, defeating the numerically superior Union army, yet never being able to inflict a decisive blow. It was this "failure" that spurred Lee to take the great gamble of invading the north in the hopes of inflicting that defeat on Union territory and ending the war in a negotiated peace. The last painting in this collection is of the Confederate army crossing the Potomac on their way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the climactic battle.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second of four volumes of fine paintings on the Civil War, October 6, 2008

By	Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Mort Künstler is a fine artist who has made the Civil War one of his important areas of work. He is known for the accurate historical detail in his paintings that come from extensive research and careful composition. While they depict historical scenes, these paintings do not duplicate photographs. Remember, at the time of the Civil War photographs took a great deal of time to set up and expose the film. So, the kinds of action scenes and small moments depicted in Künstler's work are not scene in most photographs. Yes, he uses photographs of buildings and places to place them in his work, but the composition is all his. While the detail of uniforms, buildings, weapons, and so much else in his work is spot on, you should not think these are mere illustrations of events. His composition, use of light, color, texture, line, and the way our emotions are enlisted show these paintings as important historical artwork.

This book not only shows the full paintings, you also get a very interesting article about the composition of the painting, details of the painting in larger format, a bit about the historical event painted, and even some photographs that were helpful to the artist in putting the painting together. You can see the care put into these artistic works when you see these photos and the finished work of art. Pay attention to the horses. Künstler prides himself in his ability to paint horses and I have to say I think his pride is well judged and justified. He also includes some of the sketches and studies he made in preparing to make the final painting.

There are more paintings of the Confederate forces and its officers than of the Union and its officers. I don't know why this is so, but I suspect that the romance of the South creates more demand for art than are requested in the North. More than a few of these paintings are about General Robert E. Lee or include him. He is always depicted with nobility, moral gravity, and even grace. However, the artist always plays it straight. He does not turn his art into propaganda by changing history to depict it as someone might wish it to have been. I encourage you to take time to linger over these paintings and let the image reveal itself to you in ways that a quick glance can never provide. The detail and power of the composition comes with time and study.

The four volumes are arranged chronologically.

Volume 1 and is titled "Fort Sumter to Antietam". Actually, it is from the Lincoln-Douglas Debates through Lee's Night Crossing of the Potomac after the battle at Antietam on September 19, 1862. This volume's 44 paintings have a focus on Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson more than anyone else, although there are many wonderful paintings on subjects such as Jeb Stuart's ride around McClellan in June of 1862. You can also see a wonderful clash of arms between regular soldiers of both sides at Second Manassas in August of 1862.

Volume 2 takes you from "Fredericksburg to Gettysburg" and includes 47 paintings. While Lee and his officers are given center stage often, we begin to see more of the Union including Joshua Chamberlain who became immortal at Little Round Top even before he entered the service. There are also more depictions of battles with gunfire, smoke, and struggle. We see some magnificent depictions of winter scenes and a touching scene of Stonewall Jackson seeking divine guidance and another with his beloved Anna and their daughter, Julia. She was five months old when he saw her. The painting "End of a Legend" depicting the death of Jackson is one of the most dramatic of the entire series. Actually, he was wounded in this painting and died later. His death is depicted by a gorgeous vision of his last words "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees". The trees are ablaze in fall colors and he is standing strong and alone looking his horse as it drinks from the river. We also get a painting of Robert Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts that were the subject of the film "Glory". The height of Lee's glory at Chancellorsville in May 1863 is also given a powerful representation.

Volume 3 is devoted to the campaign and battle of Gettysburg. Its 39 paintings include a series on General Armistead's charge across the field, and another at Little Round Top. Many of the other events of the battle are given their own depiction as well. The battle scenes are dramatic and frank about the violence without ever displaying the gore of battle merely to shock or cause revulsion in the viewer. Yet, I did find some of the images involving in ways that made me feel for the soldiers of both sides. We also see Pickett in several paintings, but never as a failure. The most powerful and poignant of the paintings is of Lee when he accepted full responsibility for the defeat at Gettysburg by saying it was all his fault. How many of our so-called leaders every display such nobility today?

Volume 4 takes us from the end of Gettysburg to Appomattox. These 40 paintings include a wide range of topics and do show more of the Union's victory in the war. We see Grant at Vicksburg, Sherman in Atlanta, and many of generic soldiers in battle. I was particularly moved by the painting of the boy soldiers at Gettysburg entitled "Veterans of Gettysburg". We also get several individual portraits of many of the key officers in the war. The dejection of the South at the end of the war and the weariness of both sides is shown well. Lincoln's assassination is shown by a painting of the Lincoln Memorial rather than yet another image at Ford's Theater. We also see a Confederate soldier returning to his home, his wife, child, and the land he fought for. The last image is of Lee visiting the grave of Stonewall Jackson.

This collection is a treasure. If you are interested in the Civil War, American History, American Painting, or even in history painting in general, this is great collection to have.

You can also order these volumes individually:

The Civil War Paintings of Mort Kunstler, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Antietam

The Civil War Paintings of Mort Kunstler, Vol. 3: The Gettysburg Campaign

The Civil War Paintings of Mort Kunstler, Volume 4: Gettysburg to Appomattox (Civil War Paintings)

You can also order all four volumes as a set
Civil War Paintings

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best!!, November 1, 2007

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (10/07)

Mort Kunstler's talents are impeccable as he portrays life during the Civil War in his paintings. Well-known individuals such as Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, and Winfield Scott Hancock stand out while their story is represented through visual intrigue.

Being a family history buff myself, I chose this book to review so I could get a better insight of the perils my husband's ancestors experienced during the Civil War. Seeing the pictures, and reading the narrative, gave me an understanding of not only their experience but also the understanding of the first three days of July 1863, when the two armies merged at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Kunstler's paintings are dramatic and spectacular. Every one tells a story, not only as a whole but in the expressions of the faces of the soldiers. One can't help but get drawn in, deeply experiencing the emotions of each individual as they battle for what they stood for. "The Civil War Paintings of Mort Kunstler, Vol Three" is a keeper!