Gilbert Gaul
Encyclopedia
Gilbert William Gaul military and historical painter and illustrator.
, and at the Claverack Military Academy. In New York, he began studying art under L. E. Wilmarth at the National Academy of Design
school from 1872 until 1876. He also studied with John G. Brown
and at the Art Students' League of New York when it opened in 1875.
In 1876 Gaul visited the American West, and on his return began to exhibit military and western paintings at the National Academy
and elsewhere. To supplement his income, he provided numerous illustrations to Century Magazine at a time when it was publishing Civil War
memoirs; three of his paintings were used as frontispieces to Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (1887–88); he also did work for Harper's Weekly
. His work attracted some interest and he was elected as an associate of the National Academy
in 1879 for his painting The Stragglers, and in 1882, was elected a full academician for Charging the Battery, being the youngest to achieve that honor. The same year, his painting entitled Holding the Line at All Hazards was awarded the gold medal by the American Art Association, and in 1889, he received the bronze medal at the Paris Exposition for Charging the Battery. He won further medals at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and at the Buffalo Exposition in 1902.
Besides spending time in New York City, he had built a log cabin and studio on land near Fall Creek Falls in Van Buren County, Tennessee, on land he had inherited. He also spent some time in 1890 as a special agent for the federal census among the native Americans in North Dakota. Following this, he traveled to Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, the Caribbean and South America.
He married late in life, to Marian Halstead, daughter of Vice-Admiral G.A. Halstead, R.N. in September 1898.
By the turn of the century, his work was falling out of favor and he turned increasingly to teaching but he still maintained a studio in Nashville where he worked on a series for a portfolio published in 1907 titled With the Confederate Colors. It failed to attract much attention, and by 1910, Gaul had moved to Ridgefield, New Jersey
. He did tackle the Great War but with little success, and he died on December 13, 1919 after a long illness.
Biography
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on March 31, 1855 to George W. and Cornelia A. (Gilbert) Gaul, he attended school in NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, and at the Claverack Military Academy. In New York, he began studying art under L. E. Wilmarth at the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
school from 1872 until 1876. He also studied with John G. Brown
John G. Brown
John George Brown was an Ontario politician. He was elected to the Ontario legislature as the Ontario Liberal Party Member of Provincial Parliament for Waterloo North in the 1948 provincial election....
and at the Art Students' League of New York when it opened in 1875.
In 1876 Gaul visited the American West, and on his return began to exhibit military and western paintings at the National Academy
National academy
A national academy is an organizational body, usually operating with state financial support and approval, that co-ordinates scholarly research activities and standards for academic disciplines, most frequently in the sciences but also the humanities. Typically the country's learned societies in...
and elsewhere. To supplement his income, he provided numerous illustrations to Century Magazine at a time when it was publishing Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
memoirs; three of his paintings were used as frontispieces to Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (1887–88); he also did work for Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
. His work attracted some interest and he was elected as an associate of the National Academy
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
in 1879 for his painting The Stragglers, and in 1882, was elected a full academician for Charging the Battery, being the youngest to achieve that honor. The same year, his painting entitled Holding the Line at All Hazards was awarded the gold medal by the American Art Association, and in 1889, he received the bronze medal at the Paris Exposition for Charging the Battery. He won further medals at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and at the Buffalo Exposition in 1902.
Besides spending time in New York City, he had built a log cabin and studio on land near Fall Creek Falls in Van Buren County, Tennessee, on land he had inherited. He also spent some time in 1890 as a special agent for the federal census among the native Americans in North Dakota. Following this, he traveled to Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, the Caribbean and South America.
He married late in life, to Marian Halstead, daughter of Vice-Admiral G.A. Halstead, R.N. in September 1898.
By the turn of the century, his work was falling out of favor and he turned increasingly to teaching but he still maintained a studio in Nashville where he worked on a series for a portfolio published in 1907 titled With the Confederate Colors. It failed to attract much attention, and by 1910, Gaul had moved to Ridgefield, New Jersey
Ridgefield, New Jersey
There were 4,020 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone...
. He did tackle the Great War but with little success, and he died on December 13, 1919 after a long illness.
Selected Paintings
- The Confederate Raft (1875)
- The Picket Line (1880)
- Charging the battery (1882)
- Holding the Line at All Hazards (1882)
- Cold comfort on the outpost (1883)
- On the Look-out (1885)
- Guerrillas returning from a Valley Raid (1885)
- Hunted Down (Guerrilla Warfare) (1886)
- On the Confederate Line of Battle. "With Fate Against Them" (1887)
- Charging an Earthwork (1888)
- Bringing up the guns (1889)
- On Dangerous Ground (1889)
- Encouraging the Line (1890)
- The Last Letter (c. 1890)
- Captured by Guerrillas (1892)
- U. S. Cavalryman (1898)
- News from the Front (1898)
- The Indian Prisoner (1899)
- "War" (1900)
- The wounded officer
- Following the Guidon
- Saving the Colors
- Silenced
- With Fate Against Them
- Taking the Ramparts
- Between the lines
- Union Scout
- Nearing the end
- The Grey Remnant
- The Last Letter
- The Dispatch Rider
- The Exchange of Prisoners
- Faithful unto death
- The picket
- Confederate Guerrillas
- The Heavy Road
- Capon's Battery in Action
Further reading
- D., W.H., "William Gilbert Gaul," Dictionary of American Biography, page 193.
- Gilder, Jeannette L., "A Painter of Soldiers," The Outlook, July 2, 1898, pp. 570–573.
- Lathrop, George Parsons, "An American Military Artist," The Quarterly Illustrator, Vol. I, No. 4, Oct–Dec. 1893, pp. 234–240.
- Reeves, John F., Gilbert Gaul. Exhibition catalogue, Cheekwood and Huntsville Museum of Art, 1975.
- Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Summer 1985, page 90.