More Than an Image: A Portrait of Stonewall Jackson by William Garl Browne

Abstract

With the possible exception of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall JacKson emerged from the American Civil War as the most popular and well-known Southern leader. An intense interest in his exploits and character created a demand for images of Jackson in all media -- a demand which was soon met. Two photographs of him were taken during the war. Matthew Brady retrieved a pre-war photo of Jackson from his files and published it in the north and abroad. Numerous engravngs appeared afrer his death based on the war-time photographs, and were sold as individual works or used to illustrate articles and books about the South's hero. His face and body were reproduced by sculptors -- from monumental, public statues to portrait busts. He was enlisted to sell the last prcducts. .Jackson soon joined the select group of easily recognized American figures. Jackson quickly became a popular subject for portrait painters, or, more precisely, various groups and individuals who commissioned several painted images of him. [From introductory section]