William Sartain
Robert E. Lee

Public Domain

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Artist William SartainAmerican, 1843–1924

Artistafter Mathew B. Brady American, 1823–1896

CultureAmerican

Titles

Robert E. Lee

Datec. 1868

PlacePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

MediumMezzotint on paper

DimensionsPlate or block: 15 × 12 in. (38.1 × 30.5 cm)
Sheet: 19 × 15 in. (48.3 × 38.1 cm)
Frame: 22 × 26 in. (55.9 × 66 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by John H. Adger, Philip Burguieres, Ray Childress, Thomas Coleman, M. Robert Dussler, Harry Gee, Robert Hewell, Joe Sutton, and Jack Sweeney in honor of Robert C. McNair and the Houston Texans at "One Great Night in November, 2001"

Object numberB.2001.30

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionRobert E. Lee was one of the most brilliant tacticians in United States military history. While he achieved recognition in the years following his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, opportunities for even greater distinction came with the Mexican-American War and later, the Civil War. William Sartain’s thoughtful portrait is based on a daguerreotype Matthew Brady made shortly after the surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. Employing the then antiquated technique of mezzotint, Sartain has portrayed the General with gravity and dignity.
Provenance[Donald A. Heald Rare Books, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2001.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center: ENGRAVED & PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM SARTAIN, 728 SANSUM ST. PHILADA. / ROBERT E. LEE

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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