William Brooke Thomas Trego (American, 1858-1909) The Rebel Deflection (The Blue and the Gray)

Exhibited

"So Bravely and So Well: The Life and Art of William T. Trego," James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, June 3-October 2, 2011.

Literature

William T. Trego Catalogue Raisonné, James A. Michener Art Museum (accessed online at https://www.michenerartmuseum.org/catalogue/trego/, illustrated).

Note

As explained in the online Catalogue Raisonné of Trego's work: "The painting shows a small group of Confederate and Union cavalrymen engaged in very close combat. On the far left of the composition, a Rebel has been mortally wounded, perhaps by the sabre-wielding Yankee just head of him [which recalls the figure depicted in Lot 7], while on the right another Rebel is firing his pistol at the Union flag bearer at point blank range. Sketchy figures of other cavalrymen suggest that this is one small episode of a much larger event. The vignette of the foremost rider, arm and sabre upraised, framed against the rippling American flag, is one of Trego's most powerful images."

Provenance

Collection of Walter E. Baum, Sellersville, Pennsylvania.

By descent to his son, Robert "Bert" Baum, until 1992.

Collection of Eleanor Paradee.

Sotheby's, New York, sale of April 8, 2011, lot 39.

Acquired directly from the above sale.

Collection of Sydney F. and Sharon Martin, Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

The Estate of Sydney F. Martin.