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A vivid depiction of General Philip Sheridan leading the Union forces to a decisive victory during the Third Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1864). This chromolithograph, one of 18 in L. Prang & Co.'s celebrated Civil War Pictures series, showcases Prang's mastery in chromolithography, celebrated as the finest in America during the late 19th century. The image captures the chaotic drama of the battlefield, with cavalry charging, soldiers in action, and a Confederate artillery emplacement in the foreground, vividly brought to life with vibrant color and precise detail.
The Third Battle of Winchester, fought on September 19, 1864, was a pivotal Union victory in the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Led by General Philip Sheridan, Union forces launched a series of coordinated assaults against Confederate troops commanded by General Jubal Early. The intense, day-long engagement culminated in a decisive Union cavalry charge that overwhelmed the Confederate lines, forcing a retreat. This victory not only secured control of the valley but also bolstered Northern morale during a critical phase of the war.
The Civil War Pictures series was part of Prang's mission to create art accessible to the public, focusing on moments of heroism and significance from the Civil War. These prints, hailed for their technical innovation and historical accuracy, remain highly collectible. This example exemplifies the unparalleled craftsmanship of Prang, often called "the father of the American Christmas card" and a pioneer of American chromolithography. An important piece of Civil War iconography and late 19th-century printmaking.
Prang's prospectus said of this work:
These pictures constitute the first illustrations, in colors, ever issued in America on this subject, and their superiority over black and white prints, in illustrating military scenes, is at once apparent; for the flags and the uniforms of officers and troops are vividly reproduced, the fire and smoke of battle graphically portrayed, and all the surroundings represented in colors of nature and of actual war.
