July 14 & 15, 2020 Fine & Decorative Arts
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2020
Oil on canvas, signed lower right: "P F Rothermel". Label on reverse reads: Loaned by Albert Rosenthal/ To Panama San Francisco Ex. 1915/ Battle of Gettysburg by Peter F Rothermel/ Return to 1722 Walnut St., Phila. Second label from Adair Framing, Washington DC. Inscribed on the front of the painting: "Sketch of the second day Battle at Gettysburg as seen from Little Roundtop". By one of the foremost historical painters of the 19th century, Peter Frederick Rothermel. Rothermel was born in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania and first trained as a surveyor and then as a sign painter. He began a career painting portraits in Philadelphia, but turned to history painting, which was then considered the most prestigious path for a professional artist. One of his most famous paintings is "Patrick Henry in the House of Burgesses of Virginia," which some critics consider the best historical painting in America. In 1856, he went to Rome and lived there until 1859. After the Civil War, Rothermel was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Legislature to paint a monumental work of the Battle of Gettysburg. It took him three years to complete.The painting was too large for its intended location, so it was placed in the State Museum in Harrisburg. Several smaller adjunct paintings of different battle scenes by Rothermel, similar to this view of the Battle from Little Round Top are also part of the State Museum's permanent collection and are hung in conjunction with the larger work. The Gettysburg series was completed within five years of the War's end. This is a rare and possibly singular opportunity to purchase one of the Gettysburg series by Rothermel. Of note, according to the curators at the State Museum in Harrisburg this painting is part of the series that they own and is the only one that is both signed and inscribed. Relined, small dime sized repair to canvas middle right of painting. Very small areas of inpainting. Losses to frame.
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.Item Dimensions: Frame: 60" x 87" x 4 - 1/2".
Artist
PETER ROTHERMEL (AMERICAN, 1817 - 1895).
Title
SECOND DAY, BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG AS SEEN FROM LITTLE ROUNDTOP.
Signature
Signed lower right "P F Rothermel".