Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Painting |
Title |
Charleston Bay and City |
Catalog Number |
0985.14.00037cc |
Date |
1864 |
Description |
Oil on board painting, one of a set of thirty-one images detailing the fortifications of Charleston, South Carolina. Depicts several gunboats and rowboats on the water, with a fort in the background to the right, and a cityscape along the horizon. Not signed or dated. Painted in black script along lower front edge of frame, "Charleston Bay and City". Paper label adhered to reverse of frame, "Charleston Bay and City". |
Material |
paint (oil); wood (board) |
Dimensions |
H-11.5 W-15.5 inches |
Owned |
Conrad Wise Chapman |
Owner Regiment |
Co. D, 3rd Kentucky Infantry; Co. A, 46th Virginia Infantry; Ordnance Sgt., Wise's Brigade |
Made |
Conrad Wise Chapman (sketch); John Gadsby Chapman (painting) |
Provenance |
Conrad Wise Chapman sketched this scene, and his father John Gadsby Chapman painted it. The oil painting, "Charleston Bay and City" was painted from sketches made between September 1863 and March 1864 in Charleston, South Carolina while Chapman was on furlough in Rome, Italy in 1864. According to notes made during an 1898 interview with Chapman, "Shows the whole of Charleston and Castle Pinckney; here can also be seen what used to be called the 'Ladies Gun Boat,' because it was constructed from proceeds raised by the ladies of Charleston by the sale of their jewels. This painting is likewise a copy made by the artist's father from the artist's original sketch." Chapman and his regiment, the 59th Virginia Infantry, along with the rest of General Henry Wise's brigade, went to Charleston in September 1863 to aid in the defense of that city under General P. G. T. Beauregard. He was assigned special duty as artist to illustrate the siege defenses. He received a leave of absence in March 1864 to return to Italy, where he finished the series of oil paintings. |
People |
Chapman, John Gadsby Chapman, Conrad Wise |
Search Terms |
Charleston, South Carolina Siege of Charleston |
Subjects |
Gunboats Women Art Paintings |