Customer Reviews

Don Troiani's Civil War

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Don Troiani is undoubtedly the best military artist in the United States today and his Civil War paintings accurately portray the armies of that most terrible of wars. Colorful, realistic, and full of movement, action, and the terror of combat, they have moved up to fill a void that was created with the passing of the older generation of great American military painters such as H. Charles McBarron and Clyde Risley.

This book is a noteworthy compendium of his Civil War paintings, and, accompanied by authoritative text by Brian Pohanka, is a valuable addition to the growing crescendo of Civil War literature. Accurate, gritty, and covering the subject from muzzle to buttplate, this account and the paintings it describes bring the war to life on your bookshelf or coffee table. No other painter today, with the exception of Keith Rocco and his Napoleonic paintings, has captured the world of the combat soldier as Troaini has.

If you don't own this book, you are definitely missing out on a part of history.

There is a temptation to think that history prior to this century was in black and white. The faces and landscapes of the American Civil War have so often come to us through the revolutionary photo journalism of Matthew Brady or the newsprint of contemporary periodicals. These are unprecendented chronicles of the time, yet colorless and (until Ken Burn's wonderful documentatary) largely static, lifeless. The carefully researched works of Don Troiani remind us that the principals of that sad time saw the world as we do -- with color, life! I am fortunate to own two Don Troiani art prints and, after leafing through "Troiani's Civil War" I wish I owned more. Not only is it a wonderful collection of the artist's work, but a fair cross section of major moments in the war. More than any of his contemporary artists, Troiani is a historian first. This, and his attention to the common soldier commend this work and his most highly.

This Book is not only regiments history and a lott of beautiful accurate illustrated uniforms, is history alive. The only thing this book lack off is sound but thanks to the hands of Don Troiani the paintings are so full of live you can hear it in the back of your mind. Art by Don Troiani, text by Brian C. Pohanka. This book presents in a beautiful landscape format his unique view of the war and the men who fought it. Each painting is accompanied by an extensive background text by noted historian Brian Pohanka The good thing about this book is that if you consider yourself a Civil War historian or reenactorss a just a fan beginning to study the civil war, you won't find the typical error of other authors, this would help you enjoy the painting one by one so you can understand better who and how was this War fought. One last thing DO NOT PUT THIS BOOK ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE people fall in love with this book so fast that they can even stole from you, believe me this is the third time I buy this book. If you enjoy this book you would love Don Troiani's Soldiers In America, 1754 - 1865.

A quick glance of the customer reviews tells one that this book is something special. Page after page of astounding paintings complemented by capable text. The detail of Don Troiani's artwork is such that you can literally spend hours examining them, and if you let others look at the book you can grow impatient trying to get it back!

If there is one art book that should be in every Civil War buff's library, this is the one! It's a beautifully done and wonderfully written chronology of the war, as seen through the eyes of artist Don Troiani. These impeccably researched and incredibly detailed paintings make one feel they are witnessing the actual events! The text by noted Civil War historian Brian Pohanka is a perfect compliment to Troiani's artwork; it is both informative and moving at the same time. Highly recommended!

Those with a casual or serious interest in the American Civil War will thoroughly enjoy this collection of beautiful paintings by Don Troiani. From dynamic battle scenes to homefront portrayals, this book captures the full scope of the artist's popular glimpses into Civil War life. No where else can all of Troiani's masterful artwork be seen in one place. Highly recommended.

Don Troiani's attention to historic detail is readily apparent and the visual impact of his art places the viewer in another time; another place. The realistic expressionism of his subjects allows one to share the triumphs and the agonys of the captured moment. This book is a must for true War Between the States "period art" afficianados. The precise narrative of Mr. Pohanka also reflects the highest quality and demonstrates meticulous research on the subject. A visual experience that I shall treasure and continue to enjoy throughout the years. Well done!

This a a wonderful presentation of Don Troiani's art. The added bonus here is text written by Brian Pohanka. As a Civil War and an art enthusiast, I have seen no finer book. The research Mr. Troiani goes through to ensure the accuracy of his paintings is impressive. I find that this an invaluable source for "what it was really like" during the depicted events in the Civil War.

What a nice book, both to the artistic and literary eye. I am fortunate enough to own three Don Troiani signed Civil War prints. This book is dessert, providing a thorough if not complete collection of all the Civil War art I will never own but can now enjoy. Troiani, an avid collector of Civil War uniforms and gear, provides perhaps the most accurate representation of soldiers, regiments and engagements normally limited to what the mind's eye can conjur from words on a page. Troiani not only excells at the equipment's detail, but paints a vivid image of the topography and climate as well as the determination, anguish, fear, and heroism of the soldiers. These are not charactures but the images of people who seem to walk off the page and out of your imagination. Pohanka's commentary complements the art by placing the action within the broader context of the battle and the war. I made this book a gift to myself and, if you appreciate art - either in a historical context or for arts sake - you should as well.

This is a great book and tells the civil war in art. Fantastic Paintings and every American Civil War Fanatic should have it.