American Historical Ephemera and Photography

13 3/4 x 16 3/4 in. mammoth plate albumen photograph on original 21 1/2 x 26 in. mount with credit to Brady, title, and subjects' names printed in lower margin, matted and framed, 27 x 31 in. overall (print exhibits rich tonality, exceptional clarity and contrast; mount with some soiling and repaired tears to edges, typed label on mount verso).

After the formal conclusion of the War, Sherman marched his 60,000 men over 250 miles to attend the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington DC, which took place on the 23rd and 24th of May 1865. For the portrait, Brady enthusiastically scheduled an afternoon session and invited Sherman's staff, though Sherman himself was skeptical that the officers would still be in Washington, DC. All except Francis P. Blair arrived for the sitting, who was separately photographed later. Brady used both images to create an amalgamated, complete picture. Sherman sits with (from left to right) Major Generals John A. Logan, Henry W. Slocum, and Francis P. Blair, Jr. Standing: O.O. Howard, William B. Hazen, Jeff C. Davis, and J.A. Mower.  

A non-composite picture (lacking Blair) with the same imprint and caption font (blackletter) is held by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG.94.97). This and the image offered here were issued in 1865, predating the publication of Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign in 1866, which includes the Brady image with a George N. Barnard imprint and different caption font. The Barnard prints constitute the majority of extant copies. Carte de visite copies are also known.  

Provenance: Andrew Burgess Collection (consignor notes). Andrew Burgess (1837-1908) joined Mathew Brady as an apprentice in 1855 and partnered with him in 1863. During his time with Brady, Burgess documented the Southern United States near the end of the Civil War and ventured to Mexico City to record war between Benito Juarez and Emperor Maximilian.