Civil War Soldier
Only a handful of black-and-white drawings are known by Porter. While their original purpose is unknown (were they intended for commercial illustration or personal use?), they reveal the artist’s academic training at New York’s National Academy of Design, where he may have been one of the first Black Americans to study. This poignant depiction of a reflective Union soldier suggests Porter’s interest in exploring post–Civil War subject matter that spoke to broad audiences. It also likely carried personal meaning for the artist, who lost two brothers in the conflict, both of whom fought in Black Connecticut regiments.
Artwork Details
- Title: Civil War Soldier
- Artist: Charles Ethan Porter (1847–1923)
- Date: 1879
- Culture: American
- Medium: Graphite on paper
- Dimensions: 8 1/4 in. × 6 in. (21 × 15.2 cm)
Mat: 19 1/4 × 14 1/4 in. (48.9 × 36.2 cm) - Credit Line: Gift of Charlynn and Warren Goins, 2024
- Object Number: 2024.348.3
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Charles Ethan Porter
ca. 1885
Charles Ethan Porter
1880
Charles Ethan Porter
late 1870s
Charles Ethan Porter
ca. 1878
Charles Ethan Porter
ca. 1880
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