Oil Painting Portrait of General Robert E. Lee Military Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia After John Adams Elder

Details

Description

Oil Portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia In Military Uniform After John … Read more Oil Portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia In Military Uniform After John Adams Elder (1855–1943)
Signed C. Wood, 1954

Subject & Medium
Oil on canvas, entirely hand-painted.
A mid-20th-century oil portrait depicting Confederate General Robert E. Lee, executed after the widely recognised composition by noted Confederate portraitist John Adams Elder. This is a fully painted work with visible brushwork and layered oil application, not a print or reproduction. The painting reflects the enduring appeal of Civil War portraiture and Southern historical imagery within traditional interiors.

Composition & Technique
The composition follows Elder’s established three-quarter profile format, presenting Lee half-length with arms folded, turned slightly to the left against a dark, restrained ground. The background is composed of warm umber and deep brown tonal fields, softly graduated to create depth and atmosphere while directing full attention toward the sitter.
Lee’s military uniform is rendered in deep navy-blue to near-black tones, articulated with subtle cool highlights that define structure across the chest and sleeves. The double-breasted coat is detailed with brass buttons painted in muted gold, offering refined contrast against the dark fabric.
A broad leather waist belt appears in rich reddish-brown hues, centred with a circular buckle in copper-gold tones, providing a visual anchor in the lower register of the composition.
The flesh tones are modelled using warm ochres and naturalistic pink undertones, while the beard and hair are built up with layered greys and whites to convey age and texture. The handling demonstrates confident mid-century academic technique and a respectful interpretation of Elder’s iconic prototype.

About the Sitter
Robert Edward Lee (1807–1870) was born into a prominent Virginia family and graduated second in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1829. He began his career as an engineer officer in the U.S. Army and distinguished himself during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), where his reconnaissance and battlefield engineering earned high praise.
Prior to the Civil War, Lee served as Superintendent of West Point and was involved in suppressing John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry in 1859.
In 1861, after Virginia’s secession, Lee declined command of Union forces and joined the Confederate States Army. As commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, he achieved notable victories at the Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, gaining a reputation for tactical boldness and strategic daring.
His career also included significant setbacks. The defeat at Gettysburg in 1863 marked a major turning point in the Civil War, and sustained campaigns against General Ulysses S. Grant ultimately exhausted Confederate resources. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, effectively ending major Confederate resistance.
After the war, he served as president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), promoting education and post-war reconciliation until his death in 1870.

Historical Significance
Robert E. Lee remains one of the most recognisable and historically debated figures of the American Civil War. His image became central to Southern commemorative culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
John Adams Elder’s portraits were instrumental in shaping the enduring visual archetype of Lee: composed, dignified, and authoritative. Through engravings and printed reproductions, Elder’s composition became a foundational model for subsequent interpretations, including this 1954 painted homage created during a renewed mid-century interest in Civil War historical imagery.
Today, works of this type are collected for their art historical context, decorative presence, and role within American historical portrait traditions.

About the Artist
Signed and dated C. Wood, 1954 to the reverse.
While detailed biographical information remains limited, the execution indicates a painter working within traditional oil portrait conventions. The work demonstrates controlled tonal modelling, structured composition, and careful fidelity to Elder’s established format.

Signed
Signed and dated to the reverse: C. Wood, 1954.

Framed
Presented in a later gilt moulded decorative frame. The warm gold finish complements the tonal warmth of the background and the brass uniform detailing, enhancing the traditional presentation and making the work ready for display.

Size
Canvas:
30 cm high × 21 cm wide
Frame:
38 cm high × 29 cm wide × 2.5 cm deep
A refined cabinet-scale oil painting, ideal for traditional interiors, Civil War collections, military art displays, or classic library and study settings.

Provenance
Private collection.
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Why You’ll Love It
• Fully hand-painted oil on canvas
• Signed and clearly dated 1954
• After the recognised John Adams Elder composition
• Rich, restrained Civil War palette
• Detailed military uniform depiction
• Decorative gilt frame ready to hang
• Compact size suitable for layered gallery walls or study displays

A visually balanced and historically referential oil portrait combining decorative appeal with established American military iconography.

Please feel free to enquire with any questions. See less