Grant and His Generals
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Object Details
- Artist
- Ole Peter Hansen Balling, 13 Apr 1823 - 1 May 1906
- Sitter
- Thomas Casimer Devin, 10 Dec 1822 - 4 Apr 1878
- George Armstrong Custer, 5 Dec 1839 - 25 Jun 1876
- Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, 14 Jan 1836 - 2 Dec 1881
- William Hemsley Emory, 7 Sep 1811 - 1 Dec 1887
- Philip Henry Sheridan, 6 Mar 1831 - 5 Aug 1888
- James Birdseye McPherson, 14 Nov 1828 - 22 Jul 1864
- George Crook, 8 Sep 1828 - 21 Mar 1890
- Wesley Merritt, 16 Jun 1834 - 3 Dec 1910
- George Henry Thomas, 31 Jul 1816 - 28 Mar 1870
- Gouverneur Kemble Warren, 8 Jan 1830 - 8 Aug 1882
- George Gordon Meade, 31 Dec 1815 - 6 Nov 1872
- John Grubb Parke, 22 Sep 1827 - 16 Dec 1900
- William Tecumseh Sherman, 8 Feb 1820 - 14 Feb 1891
- John Alexander Logan, 9 Feb 1826 - 26 Dec 1886
- Ulysses Simpson Grant, 27 Apr 1822 - 23 Jul 1885
- Ambrose Everett Burnside, 23 May 1824 - 13 Sep 1881
- Joseph Hooker, 13 Nov 1814 - 31 Oct 1879
- Winfield Scott Hancock, 14 Feb 1824 - 9 Feb 1886
- John Aaron Rawlins, 13 Feb 1831 - 6 Sep 1869
- Edward Otho Cresap Ord, 18 Oct 1818 - 22 Jul 1883
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr., 19 Feb 1821 - 9 Jul 1875
- Alfred Howe Terry, 10 Nov 1827 - 16 Dec 1890
- Henry Warner Slocum, 24 Sep 1827 - 14 Apr 1894
- Jefferson Columbus Davis, 2 Mar 1828 - 30 Nov 1879
- Oliver Otis Howard, 8 Nov 1830 - 26 Oct 1909
- John McAllister Schofield, 29 Sep 1831 - 4 Mar 1906
- Joseph Anthony Mower, 22 Aug 1827 - 6 Jan 1870
- Exhibition Label
- As the Civil War moved into its final stages in the fall of 1864, the Norwegian artist Ole Peter Hansen Balling and a prosperous New Yorker conceived of the idea for a large equestrian painting depicting the commander of the Union armies, Ulysses S. Grant, flanked by an array of generals who served under him. Upon completion, the painting would be used to raise funds for the United States Sanitary Commission, a private organization for aiding sick and wounded soldiers. To obtain likenesses of the twenty-seven figures in the picture, Balling traveled to Union army encampments to make life studies of his subjects. Among the most cooperative was Grant, who gave Balling repeated opportunities to draw him as he rode with staff officers to survey the forward lines near his headquarters at City Point, Virginia.
- The final rendering of Grant and His Generals approached being life-sized. Balling also painted this smaller version, most likely to serve as the template for a color lithograph of the picture. Today both paintings are in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection; the large version is on display in a nearby stairwell.
- Left to right: Thomas C. Devin (1822–1878), George A. Custer (1839–1876), Hugh J. Kilpatrick (1836–1881), William H. Emory (1811–1887), Philip H. Sheridan (1831–1888), James B. McPherson (1828–1864), George Crook (1830–1890), Wesley Merritt (1834–1910), George H. Thomas (1816–1870), Gouverneur Kemble Warren (1830–1882), George G. Meade (1815–1872), John G. Parke (1827–1900), William T. Sherman (1820–1891), John A. Logan (1826–1886), Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), Ambrose E. Burnside (1824–1881), Joseph Hooker (1814–1879), Winfield Scott Hancock (1824–1886), John A. Rawlins (1831–1869), Edward O. C. Ord (1818–1883), Francis Preston Blair (1821–1875), Alfred H. Terry (1827–1890), Henry W. Slocum (1827–1894), Jefferson C. Davis (1828–1879), Oliver O. Howard (1830–1909), John M. Schofield (1831–1906), Joseph A. Mower (1827–1870)
- Mientras la Guerra Civil se acercaba a su etapa final en el otoño de 1864, el artista noruego Ole Peter Hansen Balling y un próspero neoyorquino idearon hacer una pintura ecuestre de gran formato que representara al comandante de los ejércitos de la Unión, Ulysses S. Grant, flanqueado por un nutrido grupo de los generales que estaban bajo sus órdenes. El cuadro se utilizaría para recaudar fondos a beneficio del Comité Sanitario de Estados Unidos, organización privada que ayudaba a los soldados enfermos o heridos. Para poder hacer los retratos de los veintisiete personajes que aparecen en el cuadro, Balling visitó los campamentos de la Unión y dibujó bocetos del natural. Entre los modelos más cooperadores estuvo Grant, quien permitió a Balling dibujarlo en varias ocasiones mientras cabalgaba con sus oficiales para inspeccionar el frente de batalla cerca de su cuartel general en City Point, Virginia.
- La versión final de Grant y sus generales es casi de tamaño natural. Balling también pintó esta versión más pequeña, probablemente como plantilla para una litografía a color. Hoy, ambas pinturas se encuentran en la colección de la National Portrait Gallery. La versión grande se expone en el vano de una escalera cercana.
- Desde la izquierda: Thomas C. Devin (1822–1878), George A. Custer (1839–1876), Hugh J. Kilpatrick (1836–1881), William H. Emory (1811–1887), Philip H. Sheridan (1831–1888), James B. McPherson (1828–1864), George Crook (1830–1890), Wesley Merritt (1834–1910), George H. Thomas (1816–1870), Gouverneur Kemble Warren (1830–1882), George G. Meade (1815–1872), John G. Parke (1827–1900), William T. Sherman (1820–1891), John A. Logan (1826–1886), Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), Ambrose E. Burnside (1824–1881), Joseph Hooker (1814–1879), Winfield Scott Hancock (1824–1886), John A. Rawlins (1831–1869), Edward O. C. Ord (1818–1883), Francis Preston Blair (1821–1875), Alfred H. Terry (1827–1890), Henry W. Slocum (1827–1894), Jefferson C. Davis (1828–1879), Oliver O. Howard (1830–1909), John M. Schofield (1831–1906), Joseph A. Mower (1827–1870)
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; transfer from the Library of Congress
- c. 1865
- Object number
- S/NPG.76.8
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 58.4 x 92.7cm (23 x 36 1/2")
- Frame: 100.3 x 134.6 x 12.7cm (39 1/2 x 53 x 5")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Costume\Headgear\Military
- Weapon\Sword
- Exterior\Landscape\Battleground
- Nature & Environment\Animal\Horse
- Symbols & Motifs\Flag\Military
- Symbols & Motifs\Flag\National\United States
- Hugh Judson Kilpatrick: Male
- Hugh Judson Kilpatrick: Politics and Government\Diplomat\Minister
- Hugh Judson Kilpatrick: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- John Aaron Rawlins: Male
- John Aaron Rawlins: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War
- John Aaron Rawlins: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- John Aaron Rawlins: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- George Gordon Meade: Male
- George Gordon Meade: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- George Gordon Meade: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- George Gordon Meade: Science and Technology\Engineer\Military engineer
- John Alexander Logan: Male
- John Alexander Logan: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- John Alexander Logan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- John Alexander Logan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- John Alexander Logan: Politics and Government\US Senator\Illinois
- John Alexander Logan: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Illinois
- John Alexander Logan: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Illinois
- Winfield Scott Hancock: Male
- Winfield Scott Hancock: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate
- Winfield Scott Hancock: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Winfield Scott Hancock: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Winfield Scott Hancock: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General
- Winfield Scott Hancock: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- George Armstrong Custer: Male
- George Armstrong Custer: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Henry Warner Slocum: Male
- Henry Warner Slocum: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- Henry Warner Slocum: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Colonel
- Henry Warner Slocum: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Henry Warner Slocum: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Henry Warner Slocum: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General
- Henry Warner Slocum: Politics and Government\US Congressman\New York
- Henry Warner Slocum: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- Alfred Howe Terry: Male
- Alfred Howe Terry: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- Alfred Howe Terry: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Alfred Howe Terry: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- James Birdseye McPherson: Male
- James Birdseye McPherson: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- James Birdseye McPherson: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General
- James Birdseye McPherson: Science and Technology\Engineer\Military engineer
- James Birdseye McPherson: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- George Crook: Male
- George Crook: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- George Crook: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Edward Otho Cresap Ord: Male
- Edward Otho Cresap Ord: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
- Edward Otho Cresap Ord: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Joseph Hooker: Male
- Joseph Hooker: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
- Joseph Hooker: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- Joseph Anthony Mower: Male
- Joseph Anthony Mower: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Colonel
- Joseph Anthony Mower: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Joseph Anthony Mower: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Captain
- Joseph Anthony Mower: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Joseph Anthony Mower: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- Thomas Casimer Devin: Male
- Thomas Casimer Devin: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Colonel
- Thomas Casimer Devin: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Thomas Casimer Devin: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General
- William Hemsley Emory: Male
- William Hemsley Emory: Literature\Writer
- William Hemsley Emory: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
- William Hemsley Emory: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General
- William Hemsley Emory: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronomer
- George Henry Thomas: Male
- George Henry Thomas: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- George Henry Thomas: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Male
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Colonel
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Captain
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General
- Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Male
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Politics and Government\US Senator\Missouri
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Missouri
- Francis Preston Blair, Jr.: Politics and Government\State Legislator\Missouri
- William Tecumseh Sherman: Male
- William Tecumseh Sherman: Law and Crime\Lawyer
- William Tecumseh Sherman: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
- William Tecumseh Sherman: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- William Tecumseh Sherman: Business and Finance\Banking and Finance\Banker
- William Tecumseh Sherman: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- John Grubb Parke: Male
- John Grubb Parke: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- John Grubb Parke: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Oliver Otis Howard: Male
- Oliver Otis Howard: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Oliver Otis Howard: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Oliver Otis Howard: Literature\Writer\Historical
- Oliver Otis Howard: Education and Scholarship\Founder\University
- Jefferson Columbus Davis: Male
- Jefferson Columbus Davis: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Jefferson Columbus Davis: Law and Crime\Criminal\Murderer
- John McAllister Schofield: Male
- John McAllister Schofield: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War
- John McAllister Schofield: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- John McAllister Schofield: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Wesley Merritt: Male
- Wesley Merritt: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Wesley Merritt: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Male
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\President of US
- Ulysses Simpson Grant: Congressional Gold Medal
- Ambrose Everett Burnside: Male
- Ambrose Everett Burnside: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Business executive\Railroad executive
- Ambrose Everett Burnside: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Ambrose Everett Burnside: Politics and Government\US Senator\Rhode Island
- Ambrose Everett Burnside: Politics and Government\Governor\Rhode Island
- Gouverneur Kemble Warren: Male
- Gouverneur Kemble Warren: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher
- Gouverneur Kemble Warren: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army
- Gouverneur Kemble Warren: Science and Technology\Engineer\Civil engineer
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_S_NPG.76.8
- Metadata Usage (text)
- CC0
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4cd13a643-a595-4087-9f32-2552768cd346
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