Important Antietam American Folk Art Painting c1886
Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Folk Art: Pre 1900: Item # 1332815
Please refer to our stock # za551 when inquiring.
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A striking oil on canvas rendering of Antietam Bridge done 24 years after the infamous Civil War battle. Signed at the lower right "J.A. Ashley 86". The reverse of the painting is titled by the artist "Antitam Bridge and Battleground 1882." Depicting an idyllic scene, so much in contrast with the horrific battle 20 years earlier, the painting shows grazing cows in the foreground, the stone bridge with covered wagons traversing it, and houses in the background.
The condition of the painting is very good, with bright colors no restoration. There is a 3/8" crack in the paint in the light green section in the central area of the painting, just over the head of the horse. This can be seen, in extreme magnification, in the second photo. It really does not detract from the impact or value of the painting, but, if desired, the crack could be easily and inexpensively fixed. Sight size of this wonderful work is 23 1/2" by 19 1/2", and the overall size of the period frame is 35" by 31".
NOTE: The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, took place on September 17, 1862. It was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Union soil, and was the most sanguineous single-day battle in American history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing. Although generally considered a draw by military historians, the Confederate troops had withdrawn first from the battlefield, which gave President Lincoln the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
