ORMSBY, W. L.

Maj. Gen. Geo. B. M'Clellan, Commanding, United States Army

New York: [1861-62]. Engraving. Plate mark: 25 x 18 1/2 inches. Sheet size: 29 x 22 3/8 inches. Plate mark: 25 x 18 1/2 inches.

Large format Civil War portrait of Major General George McClellan.

Rare first state; after McClellan was dismissed by Lincoln from command of the Army the plate was changed to "Late Maj. Gen..." This impressive portrait of McClellan on horseback, evidently rushed to publication soon after he became the commanding officer of the Union Army in November 1861, was actually a reworking of an 1852 portrait of Franklin Pierce depicting his service in the Mexican War, with McClellan's face superimposed on Pierce's body.

See Milton Kaplan, "Heads of State" in Winterthur Portfolio 6: 1970: 135-44.

Item #35873

Price: $600.00