HENRY ARTHUR (HARRY) MCARDLE (American, 1836-1908). Henry W. Karnes, circa 1905. Oil on canvas. 30 x 25 inches (76.2 x 6...

Description

HENRY ARTHUR (HARRY) MCARDLE (American, 1836-1908)
Henry W. Karnes, circa 1905
Oil on canvas
30 x 25 inches (76.2 x 63.5 cm)
Signed lower right: McArdle

PROVENANCE:
H.A. McArdle;
By descent to Marie McArdle;
By descent to George Bland;
By descent to Elisabeth Bland.

In 1812, Henry Wax Karnes was born in Tennessee and later came to Texas. His father was a hunter and trapper, who taught him the skills associated with the American frontier. Karnes was a hero of the Texas Revolution and distinguished himself in several battles. He was also the first scout to return to Gen. Sam Houston with news of the fall of the Alamo. At the battle of San Jacinto, Capt. Karnes was second in command of the cavalry corps led by Mirabeau B. Lamar. After San Jacinto, Karnes was promoted to Colonel because his scouting and pursuit of Mexican troops contributed greatly to the success on the battle. After the revolution, he commanded a troop of Texas Rangers. Although the Texans had achieved an overwhelming victory at San Jacinto, Karnes sustained an arrow wound that never fully healed. He died of yellow fever in 1840 and later Karnes County was named for him.

Around 1905, this portrait of Karnes was painted by artist H. A. McArdle. Painting mostly battles and portraits of heroes from the Civil War and the Texas Revolution, McArdle was known for his meticulous research. A letter describing Karnes, written by his sister Susan Karnes Corley, is among McArdle's papers. In his epic painting, The Battle of San Jacinto (see lot 76013), McArdle depicts Karnes in combat with Mexican Col. Antonio Trevino. In his notebooks, under a detail of their fight in San Jacinto, McArdle writes, "Gallant Trevino in combat with the brave Henry W. Karnes." As in this portrait, Karnes is easily recognizable by red hair, coonskin hat, and buckskins. Henry W. Karnes is inscribed "Painted for J.T. DeShields" in the lower-right corner and was recently found in the attic of the West Virginia home of McArdle's descendents, along with the lost version of McArdle's The Battle of San Jacinto also being offered in this sale.




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