|
Remembering Our American Heroes
by Michael Malzone
As we celebrate Memorial day this weekend I hope we can take time from our
picnics and days at the beach and reflect on our valiant fellow Americans, across the ages who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Quite a few years back I created a series of paintings depicting the Revolutionary War in New Jersey. I enjoyed the process of learning about the many historic events that took place right here in our backyard. From the dramatic Delaware crossing by General Washington to French
General Rochambeau and his soldiers incredible march from Rhode Island through New Jersey, joining up with American forces to defeat the British in the decisive battle in Yorktown.
In my research I discovered many great artists who recorded the many different battles and soldiers, their art instrumental in presenting the drama played out on the battlefield.
Artists like John Trumbull, Alonzo Chapell, and Howard Pyle, are mostly forgotten by Americans.
However their art lives on in museums and many institutions, helping to shape our understanding of the sacrifice made by these brave men and women through our short, American history. My favorite Artist/Illustrator is Howard Pyle. Pyle is by far America's most prolific artist, creating childrens books and paintings throughout his career. If you've ever considered trashing a painting because you were unhappy with it, well... you're not
alone...
When American artist Howard Pyle was collecting information and ideas for the Battle of Bunker Hill painting, he wrote to the Admiralty office in London for details about the real formation in the battle but got very little information. He made the composition from what they told him, and from his own
imagination. At first, the drummers were marching on the right side, and then he put them in the rear where they are now.
The version seen here was also Pyle’s second try: he was unhappy after a week’s work on the first, so he slashed the canvas with a sword. And then he painted this one in four days.
Read more here:
https://howardpyle.blogspot.com/2010/11/battle-of-battle-of-bunker-hill.html
Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and reflective Memorial Day.
|
|
|
|
