Brigadier General Oliver Otis Howard

Art Historical Context

Behold the striking 1882 drawing *Brigadier General Oliver Howard* by James Edward Kelly, waist-length portrait capturing the Union Army officer in full military regalia. Created nearly two decades after the Civil, this work from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection honors Howard, a decorated general who served valiantly despite losing his right arm at the Battle of Chancellorsville 1863. His stern gaze and impeccably detailed uniform evoke the era's heroism and discipline, making it a poignant reminder of America's turbulent Reconstruction period. Kelly, a renowned American illustr...