Throughout his career, N.C. Wyeth was commissioned to paint Civil War subjects as illustrations, murals and even calendar pictures.
Despite their different uses, these images presented the war-battles, soldiers and civilians-in a romantic, heroic manner which reflected a national desire to focus on duty, loyalty and bravery. The exhibition examined how Wyeth prepared for these commissions and how, sometimes creating a picture at odds with its text, he portrayed the war as a courageous struggle and the combatants as noble warriors. Illustrations of the Civil War, featuring many fine examples from the museum's collections, including works by Alonzo Chappel, Harry Fenn, Winslow Homer and Howard Pyle, were also be on view.