The National Gallery of Art has announced a major expansion of its collection, including an important group of early American photographs from the Civil War.
Among the National Gallery of Art’s collection are approximately 35 19th-century Civil War photographs that greatly enhance the Gallery’s original photographic collection. Famous Civil War actors on stage include George N. Barnard, Alexander Gardner, Matthew Brady, and Andrew Joseph Russell.
Featured in this collection is Gardner’s photograph of Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration on March 4, 1865, at the US Capitol, capturing the scene during the rain and wind of war. After moving to Scotland, Gardner settled in Washington, DC, where he managed the American art studio Mathew Brady. Gardner began photographing in the 1850s and is best known for his Civil War portraits, from the everyday lives of soldiers to battlefields and ruins.
Gardner’s photograph of a crowd gathered to witness Lincoln’s second inauguration was taken just a month before Robert E. Lee’s surrender and Lincoln’s assassination. On that day, one of the largest inauguration crowds to date braved incessant rain and strong winds. According to historical accounts, when Lincoln rose to speak, the clouds reportedly parted, and sunlight illuminated the ceremony – a moment that witnesses remembered for years. Later that year, Gardner was given special Secret Service access to photograph the conspirators involved in the Lincoln assassination and their executions.
The National Gallery of Art’s acquisition also includes more than 140 photographs from the 20th and 21st centuries, featuring the work of American, Canadian, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Mexican and Russian photographers. Highlights include contemporary photography by Ilse Bing, Florence Henri, Albert Renger-Patzsch, and Josef Sudek. In addition, the Gallery acquired Sebastião Salgado’s Genesis portfolio (2004–2011), a series of 50 platinum prints documenting human activity, conflict and nature, enhancing the Gallery’s portfolio of his work.
“As managers of national collections, we are proud to continue to expand our activities with important works that tell new stories and deepen our collection across mediums, highlighting the progress of art throughout history and promoting the continuous creativity of contemporary artists,” E. Carmen Ramos, chief officer of care and conservation, says in a statement. “This group of goods combines historically important works with the work of artists who continue to create artistic dialogue, expanding the important parts of our collection, especially in the fields of photography and sculpture.”
Image credits: All images are courtesy of the National Gallery of Art.
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