Mort Künstler Hand Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print:"Respect of an Army"
Previous Item
28 of 160
Next Item
View All Mort Kunstler

Mort Künstler Hand Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print:"Respect of an Army"

Item# 341020
$275.00
Free Shipping
See It Framed
Ask about this item    Print Friendly

Artist: Mort Künstler
Title: Respect of an Army -Appomattox C. H., Va., April 9, 1865
Edition Size: Artist Signed and Numbered with COA to 350 prints with 50 AP's. Canvas limited to 50/50/15/5.
Medium: Fine Art Prints on Paper and Giclee on Canvas Editions.
Image Dimensions: Limited Edition Print Image size: 17" x 30" / Overall size: 22" x 34" Canvas Sizes: 16" x 28" , 19" x 34", 22" x 39" and 32" x 57".
About the Edition : Tribute to Tom Lovell's "Surrender At Appomattox" Featuring Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Charles Marshall, Philip Sheridan, Maj. Gen Edward Ord , Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt, Brig, Gen. John Rawlins, Lt. Col. Throdore S. Bowers, Major George Forsyth, Lt. Col. Orvill Babcock , Lt. Col. Ely D. Parker, Captain Robert Todd Lincoln, Maj. Gen. Rufus Ingalls, Lt Col. Horace Parker , Brig. Gen. Seth Williams and Lt. Col. Adam Badeau

Perhaps one of the most touching scenes of the entire Civil War took place at the very end of the conflict. After four terrible years of fighting, the gallant Army of Northern Virginia had sustained great hardships and was unable to recover. Outnumbered, under-equipped and nearing desperation, the Confederate forces reluctantly conceded to their Union counterparts. After communicating through a series of dispatches, General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant agreed to meet to discuss the terms of surrender. The spot for this historic event took place at the McLean House at Appomattox Court House.

According to the official account of the event, General Grant initiated the conversation by saying "I met you once before, General Lee, while we were serving in Mexico, when you came over from General Scott's headquarters to visit Garland's brigade, to which I then belonged. I have always remembered your appearance, and I think I should have recognized you anywhere." "Yes," replied General Lee, "I know I met you on that occasion, and I have often thought of it and tried to recollect how you looked, but I have never been able to recall a single feature."

After completing the terms, General Lee shook hands with General Grant, bowed to the other officers, and left the room. Grant's staff and those in attendance followed their former foe out onto the porch and front grounds as the Confederate commander signaled for his horse. According to eyewitness Lt. Col. Horace Porter:

While the animal was being bridled the general stood on the lowest step and gazed sadly in the direction of the valley beyond where his army lay - now an army of prisoners. He smote his hands together a number of times in an absent sort of way; seemed not to see the group of Union officers in the yard who rose respectfully at his approach, and appeared unconscious of everything about him. All appreciated the sadness that overwhelmed him, and he had the personal sympathy of every one who beheld him at this supreme moment of trial. The approach of his horse seemed to recall him from his reverie, and he at once mounted. General Grant now stepped down from the porch, and, moving toward him, saluted him by raising his hat. He was followed in this act of courtesy by all our officers present; Lee raised his hat respectfully, and rode off to break the sad news to the brave fellows whom he had so long commanded.

The reverence and awe exhibited by the victors spoke directly to the character and reputation of their former enemy, who had risen against the odds time and time again to achieve success on the battlefield. Despite feeling an overwhelming sense of relief that the war was over, no one that day took pleasure in Lee's personal defeat. Despite the circumstances that may have separated them, the soldiers who had fought so hard against one another shared a mutual respect that represented the first step toward reuniting the country.

Mort Künstler's Comments:

My all-time favorite Civil War painting is the surrender scene painted for National Geographic's April 1965 issue. It shows Robert E. Lee signing the peace treaty in the parlor of the McLean House. The compassion and respect of General Grant and the Union officers in the room is apparent and very moving. What makes the painting even better are the likenesses of all the characters in the scene. This is an incredibly difficult chore for an artist, and my late friend Tom Lovell (1909-1997) made the painting a tour de force for his talents.

I've known for some time that I would do an Appomattox surrender scene for the 150th anniversary of the event. The problem was I did not know exactly what I would paint. I always like to do something that no one else has done, and Appomattox has been painted thousands of times by hundreds of artists. Since I had already done a painting of Lee riding back through the Confederate lines after the signing - and I certainly was not going to attempt to do the same scene that my friend and idol had done so masterfully - that left me with Lee departing the McLean House and passing through the lines.

While many artists have painted that event, none that I know of have ever shown the McLean House and Appomattox County Courthouse in the same scene. By walking around the property and studying maps I came up with a viewpoint, which does just that. I attempted to emulate Tom Lovell by trying to capture the likenesses of as many of the people as possible that were verified to have been there. Chief Historian Patrick Schroeder of Appomattox Court House National Park was of immeasurable help, supplying photos, maps, and drawings, and helping me solve the various problems that came up during the work on the painting.

I can only hope that you, the viewer, enjoy this painting as much as I have enjoyed looking at the Lovell work. I would like to show the photos and eyewitness sketch by Alfred R. Waud that I used for this painting. Have fun identifying the individuals.



Description: All Prints are sale priced everyday! Professionally Frame any print from our dealer gallery starting at an additional $149 and receive free shipping!

Availability: Print only orders usually ship in 3-9 days. "Custom Framed" products are made to order by craftsman, so additional time is required. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.

Mort Künstler Hand Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print:"Respect of an Army"
Framing and AP Options
No thank you, I just want the 17x30 SN unframed print.
Unframed AP Print, add (+$125)
Medium Honey Oak Frame, add (+$199)
Black Matte Hardwood Frame , DL-8, #325,add (+$199)
Small Driftwood Frame, DL-3, #4755, add (+$249)
RoseWood Frame, PR-2, #1890, add (+$249)
Antique Gold Frame w/ Black Design, PR-4 , #95135, add (+$249)
Outer Mat
Antique White #251
Black #221
Brick #231
Burgundy #38
Charcoal #257
Creme #223
Dark Brown #106
Dark Mahogany #88
Dark Spruce #125
English Rose Pink #151
Gold #568
Khaki #92
Light Gray #82
Linen #128
Mauve #154
Midnight Blue #131
Mist Gray #112
Navy Blue #230
Pale Moss #253
Pineneedle Green #411
Putty #90
Royal Blue #142
Sage Green #247
Silver Mist #130
Spiced Brown #710
Storm Gray #114
Wedge Wood Blue #124
Inner Mat
Antique White #251
Black #221
Brick #231
Burgundy #38
Charcoal #257
Creme #223
Dark Brown #106
Dark Mahogany #88
Dark Spruce #125
English Rose Pink #151
Gold #568
Khaki #92
Light Gray #82
Linen #128
Mauve #154
Midnight Blue #131
Mist Gray #112
Navy Blue #230
Pale Moss #253
Pineneedle Green #411
Putty #90
Royal Blue #142
Sage Green #247
Silver Mist #130
Spiced Brown #710
Storm Gray #114
Wedge Wood Blue #124
Video Not Avaibale.
Scroll to top