LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663  / 

74115

Sculptor Edward Valentine's Robert E. Lee Photos

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Sculptor Edward Valentine's Robert E. Lee Photos
<B>Sculptor Edward Valentine's Personal Vannerson Photographs of Robert E. Lee Used in Modeling His Famous Statue.</B></I> Edward Virginius Valentine (1838-1930) was an American sculptor born in Richmond, Virginia. He studied in Paris, Italy, and Germany and made numerous busts and statues of Confederate heroes. One of his more famous works is his statue of Robert E. Lee that resides in the National Statuary Hall collection in the United States Capitol building. In early 1864 Lee sat at Julian Vannerson's studio in Richmond for studies to be used in the execution of a statue to raise war funds for the Confederacy. It was the images from this sitting that Valentine used to model his iconic statue of Lee. <BR><BR>The first photograph, perhaps the most striking image to come out of the session, is of a seated Lee clearly showing his facial features and uniform. The oval albumen photograph measures 6.75" x 9.5" and is mounted on a backing board to an overall size of 10" x 12". The backing board bears the imprint of Homeier & Clark, Richmond, Virginia. The image is in near fine condition. On the reverse, in Valentine's hand, is written: "<I>This photo is a copy from an original made during the war between the states for me of Genl Robert E. Lee who sat for same. The original photo was made by Vannerson Richmond Va & sent to me through the blockade to Berlin. I modeled from this a statuette of Genl Lee which was sent to the Liverpool Bazaar for the benefit of the Confederacy. The statuette was sold & found its way somewhere in Scotland. Edward V. Valentine.</B></I>" It is thought that the statue was completed too late for the Liverpool Bazaar and was instead sent to London, exhibited in a well-known shop, and was eventually sent to Scotland. <BR><BR>Valentine has used an identical photograph and applied a pencil line grid to help determine perspective and the scale for his statue. This photograph is also marked with the Homeier & Clark imprint and bears many smudges and stains presumably from Valentine's frequent reference to it as he modeled his statue. <BR><BR>The third photograph is an oval albumen image of Lee in profile with a facsimile Lee signature across the bottom, 7" x 9", mounted on a backing board to an overall size of 10" x 12" with an imprint of Homeier & Clark, Richmond, Virginia. On the reverse in Valentine's hand is written: "<I>From the original photograph made for me, Edward V. Valentine</B></I>". The image is in fine condition with only minor staining to the backing mat.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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