What is the thematic context of Grant and His Generals?

thomas couture influence, american civil war history, union military leadership, portraiture of union generals, historical documentation

Is Grant and His Generals under copyright?

No, this artwork is in the public domain.

Buy a hand made painting of Grant and His Generals

Artwork Description

After the Norwegian artist Ole Peter Hansen Balling had sketched President Abraham Lincoln at the White House in the fall of 1864, he obtained permission to paint life portraits of leading Union generals. Balling joined General Grant at City Point, Virginia, during the campaign against Richmond and spent five weeks there sketching officers in the field. Philip H. Sheridan was painted while in the Shenandoah Valley; the portraits of William . Sherman and George H. Thomas were done in Washington, D.C., after the war’s end. The image of George A. Custer, second from the left, is thought to be the only portrait painted of him from life.

Artist Biography

early life and training

ole peter hansen balling, a norwegian artist, was born in kristiania (now oslo) in 1823. he began his artistic journey as a student of norwegian artist ferdinand jonas gjøs and later trained under danish artists, including jacob emilius wnderlich. balling's early training laid the foundation for his future success in capturing the essence of his subjects.

a career spanning continents

balling's artistic career took him to various parts of the world. he studied at art academies in berlin (1843-1845) and copenhagen (1846-1848), and later, in 1854, he honed his skills under thomas couture in paris. this exposure to diverse artistic styles and techniques is reflected in the breadth of his work.

volunteering in the first schleswig-holstein war, balling demonstrated his commitment to service, which later led to his command of the 145th new york volunteer infantry regiment during the american civil war.
his time in the united states (1856-1874) saw the creation of numerous portraits, including those of union army generals and prominent american statesmen, such as ulysses s. grant, chester arthur, and john brown.
upon returning to norway, balling operated a painter workshop in horten, capturing the likenesses of norwegian naval officers and members of the royal bernadotte family.

legacy and awards

balling's work is featured in several prestigious institutions, including:

national portrait gallery in washington, d.c., where his portraits are a testament to his skill.
west point military academy in new york and the united states naval academy in annapolis, maryland, also showcase his work.
in norway, his pieces can be found at the royal norwegian navy museum in horten and the national museum of art, architecture and design in oslo.

awarded the order of the dannebrog, balling's contributions to the world of art are undeniable.

view more works by ole peter hansen balling on TopImpressionists.com

ole peter hansen balling: grant and his generals (national portrait gallery, oil on canvas)
explore more of balling's portraits on TopImpressionists.com, where you can also find reproductions of his work and other famous artists.

references

the hirschsprung collection, copenhagen
ole peter hansen balling on wikipedia.org

note: the provided links are for TopImpressionists.com and wikipedia, as per the instruction to only include relevant links from these sources.

ole peter hansen balling

1823 - 1906 , Norway

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Romanticism
Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Romanticism']
Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
- Ferdinand Jonas Gjøs
- Jacob Emilius Wunderlich
Date Of Birth: April 13, 1823
Date Of Death: May 1, 1906
Full Name: Ole Peter Hansen Balling
Nationality: Norwegian
Notable Artworks:
- Grant and His Generals
- Ulysses S. Grant
Place Of Birth: Oslo, Norway

Duncan Grant: A Life in Colour – Bloomsbury, Modernism & Aesthetic Harmony

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