American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Conrad Freitag (1802-1894) was a German-born marine artist that resided in Brooklyn, New York. He was best known for his portraits of New York pilot boats, and examples of his artwork were exhibited at the National Academy and Brooklyn Art Association in the 1870s and 1880s.

Freitag served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1862 at the age of 19 as a private and mustering into Co. B, 84th New York Infantry. Within a year, Freitag was promoted to corporal. He was wounded in action at Spotsylvania, Laurel Hill, VA, on 9 May 1864, and went home to New York to recover, mustering out from the Ladies Home Hospital on 22 May 1865. It was during his recovery that Freitag painted a scene from the battle of Spotsylvania, which subsequently led him to his career as a painter. 

This lot features an original sketch on paper of Union General Winfield Scott Hancock, rendered, signed, and dated [18]70 lower right by Freitag. The sketch measures 13 3/4 x 18 1/4 in. and is hinged along top edge to mount and matted (toning, some chipping and loss to edges).

[With:] A cabinet card photograph of Freitag, credited to John Wood, New York. -- 3 autograph letters signed by Freitag, each addressed to his friend Henry. In the earliest letter, 3 1/2 pages, dated 12 March 1873, Freitag discusses his artwork, including "two Paintings of Schooners that I had to have ready at a certain time without fail. I concluded to take the canvasses home so as not to lose any time in going to and from the Studio, and when there, making fire, cleaning up, etc., besides being annoyed with Pilots and others during the day." He also discusses the progress that art students at "the Academy" are making, including "Miller" who is "making very creditable progress...since he is married, he [is] almost entirely cured of his Quixotic ideas." The second letter, one page, dated 8 April 1879, reveals to "Henry" that his portrat at the Academy Exhibition has been sold. The third and final letter in the collection, 5 1/2 pages, is written from Williamsburg on 22 June 1873. Freitag first discusses the outrageous conditions in which a fellow artist named "Muller" sketches in the country involving a group of "villainous Farmer boys," and a cavalcade of other characters. He also relates the results of a contest held at the Academy, listing the names of the artists that received prizes for their work. Near the end of the letter, Freitag notes, "The time for outdoor work has arrived and I suppose you avail yourself of any chances to produce something from nature's glorious and abundant beauties. I have commenced and will continue to try and get some of the beautiful works I have my eye on and endeavor to finish the choicest ones as highly as possible."

Together, 5 items involving noted 19th century marine artist and Civil War veteran, Conrad Freitag.