Surrender of a Confederate Soldier

Object Details

Artist

Julian Scott, born Johnson, VT 1846-died Plainfield, NJ 1901

Gallery Label

At the age of fifteen, Julian Scott lied about his age to enlist in the Union army. He rose from drummer boy to infantryman, and for his service he earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. After his discharge he became an artist, initially focusing on images of heroic moments of sacrifice during the war. He painted this Confederate soldier with dignity. The raised white flag is simultaneously a surrender of the individual, his family, the Confederate cause, and the Southern way of life. The soldier’s wife cradles their infant child, while the enslaved man with them looks away, perhaps envisioning the changes in his own future. Scott imbued this work with respect for his Confederate counterpart, sounding a hopeful note for the future.

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Nan Altmayer

1873

Object number

2012.23

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

19 3/8 x 15 1/2 in. (49.2 x 39.4 cm)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Figure group

Occupation\military\soldier

History\United States\Civil War

Object\other\flag

Record ID

saam_2012.23

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7b9b08ddb-0b2e-4678-adcd-b3237276d423