Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné
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© 2002 Christie’s Images Limited
Overall
Photo: Reproduced by permission
Frame
Photo: Reproduced by permission
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10.0 Civil War Themes
Johnson was thirty-six years old when the Civil War began. Although he did not serve in the Union Army, he followed the Union troops in search of subjects that would appeal to a pro-Union audience. He also painted pictures of the homefront. —PH
Hills no. 10.0.16
1907 Sale no. 5
Study of Soldier's Head (Study for the Wounded Drummer Boy)
1907 Sale title: Study of Soldier's Head
Alternate title: Study for the Wounded Drummer Boy
c.1864–71
Oil on board
9 9/16 x 8 3/4 in. (24.3 x 22.2 cm)
Initialed lower right: E.J.
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Description / Remarks
Hills, 2022: Although John I. H. Baur owned and annotated a copy of the catalogue of Johnson's 1907 Estate Sale, he did not include this work in his own 1940 catalogue listing; he must have obtained it after publication.
1907 Estate Sale 
No. 5: "One of the studies for the head of the soldier carrying the drummer boy on his shoulder in the well-known picture entitled 'An Incident at the Battle of Antietam.' The head is in strong sunlight, and the visor of the military cap casts a shadow across the forehead and the upturned eyes."
"Signed at the lower right, E. J.
Height, 9 ½ inches; width, 9 inches."
[Annotation: “30.00”]
"Signed at the lower right, E. J.
Height, 9 ½ inches; width, 9 inches."
[Annotation: “30.00”]
Provenance
References
Catalogue of Finished Pictures, Studies, and Drawings by the Late Eastman Johnson, N.A. New York: American Art Association, February 1907. Sale catalogue, n.p., no. 5, as Study of Soldier's Head.
Hills Examination / Opinion
Examination date(s): 2002-10-12
Examination notes: Nice shadow—luminous. Both eyes and eye whites show through. Also eyebrow—expression—one of wary wonder. Only graphite line—along edge from rifle to rt shoulder. Nice impasto on nose. Zig zaggy brushstrokes on cheek. Underpainting is the ground (underpainting) then darker red brown in nostril. Gold button on cap and buckle. Line along rifle. Color photo needs more red—actual painting nice pink tones on cheek. Mouth slightly open[?]. Dark outlining on cap not characteristic.
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Record last updated April 7, 2022. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Hills, Patricia, and Abigael MacGibeny. "Study of Soldier's Head (Study for the Wounded Drummer Boy), c.1864–71 (Hills no. 10.0.16)." Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné. www.eastmanjohnson.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=117 (accessed on April 20, 2024).