Morton Künstler (American, b. 1931). The Fight of Fallen Timbers: Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest and Captain John Hunt Mor...

Description

Morton Künstler (American, b. 1931)
The Fight of Fallen Timbers: Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest and Captain John Hunt Morgan at the Battle of Shiloh, April 8, 1862, 1991
Oil on canvas
22 x 36 inches (55.9 x 91.4 cm)
Signed and dated lower left: MKünstler '91

PROVENANCE:
Mr. Charles W. Williams, Atlanta, Georgia;
Private collection, Atlanta, Georgia.

EXHIBITED:
Gettysburg National Military Part, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, "Mort Künstler: Images of the Civil War," May 15-December 5, 1992;
Nassau County Museum of Art, "Mort Künstler: Civil War Paintings," January 10-March 1, 1998.

LITERATURE:
J. McPherson and M. Künstler, Images of the Civil War, New York, 1992, pp. 56-7, 176, illustrated;
S. Horn, The Army of Tennessee, Norman, Oklahoma, 1993, illustrated as the cover;
H. Commager, R. Gragg, and M. Künstler, The American Spirit, Nashville,1994, pp. 90-1, illustrated;
J. Robertson, Jr., The Confederate Spirit: Valor, Sacrifice, and Honor, The Paintings of Mort Künstler, Nashville, 2000, pp. 116-17, illustrated;
M. Künstler, The Civil War Art of Mort Künstler, Seymour, Connecticut, 2004, p. 55, illustrated;
M. Künstler, The Civil War Paintings of Mort Künstler, Volume I: Fort Sumter to Antietam, Nashville, 2006, p. 126-27, 129, illustrated;
J. Robertson, Jr., For Us the Living: The Civil War in Paintings and Eyewitness Accounts, The Art of Mort Künstler, New York, 2010, p. 52, illustrated;
J. Robertson, Jr., See American History: The Civil War, 1861-1865, The Art of Mort Künstler, 2016, p. 13, partially illustrated.

Mort Künstler describes the origin of this painting: "In reading the book "First with the Most" Forrest by Robert Selph Henry, I was searching for a moment that would typify the audacity and man of action that was Nathan Bedford Forrest. I did not have to search long. On Tuesday, April 8, 1862, to be exact, at the Battle of Shiloh, events took place that were so exciting and action-packed as to defy belief!

"Forrest had been put in charge of fragments of various cavalry commands--his own Tennessee regiment, Adam's Mississippians, Wharton's Texas Rangers and Morgan's Kentuckians. They would act as a rear guard. It was an opportunity to portray Forrest in action along with the soon-to-be-famous John Hunt Morgan. The weather was nasty, rainy; it hailed that night. It was great atmosphere for a painting. I had found my moment!

"While a regiment of Ohio infantry advanced toward Forrest through mire and a belt of fallen timber, instead of waiting to be attacked, he decided to charge. We see Forrest as a Colonel, sword in hand, leading a dangerous charge over the fallen timbers with John Hunt Morgan at his side. Although Forrest was born left-handed, because of the stigma attached in those days, he practiced using his right hand so diligently that he became virtually ambidextrous.

"The Texas flag follows with the Confederate battle flag alongside. The first national flag, widely used at the time, is seen behind Morgan. In the extreme right background is the flag of the fourth unit.

"The dead trees and fallen timber became perfect design elements to call attention to the center of interest, Forrest. This is the first time I have done a painting of either Nathan Bedford Forrest or the Battle of Shiloh. I am sure it will not be the last!" (From the archives of Künstler Enterprises, Ltd.)




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