Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

[Jubilo]

Dear Folks ,
Back in the 1960's Life Magazine ran a Civil War series. The third part of the series was "Anatomy of Two Foes ," by Bell Irwin Wiley and featured color line drawing illustrations of Civil War soldiers by G. Woodbridge . I have never seen these reproduced anywhere nor can I locate them on any web site. Has anyone any information or remember this series ?
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett

[roundshot]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

Us older guys sure enough do. They also produced a companion booklet in 1963 called "Great Battles of the Civil War" which included most of the wonderful illustrations, many by George Woodbridge, Tom Lovell, and others. Attached are a couple of samples of the artwork from my copy.

[Ken]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

Bob,

I'm a boomer and just purchased that wonderful little book, complete and in great shape off of ebay. My original, which my mom bought for me when I was but a young lad has seen better days so finding this mint one was a real find. I actually cam across a fellow selling life magazines a while back and he had copies of all the magazines that made up that series. It was pretty cool to browse. I also new a life magazine collector who showed me the 1956? edition with the story of Albert Woolson death. Very cool.
By the way, didn't know George Woodbridge was an illustrator for the famous MAD magazine.

[Clsinclair]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

I have three issues. I got them from an antique dealer.

Claude Sinclair

[Rob Weaver]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

I've had that "Great Battles" magazine since I was 11. It was formative for me! The drawings of individual regiments have become famous, and were replinted in a number of different settings. They have inspired distinctive "types" that still show up in illustrations about the Civil War in the popular market. For instance, I've seen the pose of the 2nd Wis drummer used in an Osprey book, and recently a text with photos of the items in the Philadelphia Civil War library had a picture of a 2nd Wis drummer. Different pose, but identical uniform! The 20th Tenn pose has likewise become archtypal. Those pictures were among the first things to open my eyes to the wide differences in clothing and equipment used by even the same army.
I've always been fond of the special paintings which were commissioned for that series of articles. The Ellsworth picture is memorable, as is the Battle of the Crater.

[Jeff Prechtel]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

Woodbridges illustrations can be found in the Coy of military Historian's
book on the ACW period, along side Frederick Ray, Charles McBarron
and others. Lovell's are harder to find, about the only two places I can
think of are a set pf prints that were available through (Grenwich workshop?)
in the late 80s, and in a book on Lovell's art, which is probably available through
amazon. Woodbridge did have a set of prints available for a while....I believe there
was 6 of them? You might be able to track down a set by googling his name.

As far as i know, he never had a website, but i do know there are several
art galleries out there that did carry the prints. Mr. Woodbridge passed away
either last January, or two years ago, january. Mr. Lovell has also passed.

[roundshot]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

Here's a public site with some of Woodbridge's Line drawings from the Life series that can be enlarged:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leifpeng/sets/72157594249574495/

This is the ony place I have seen the Yank/Reb uniform studies reproduced.

[Charles Hollis]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

How well I remember the Life magazine series on the ACW. I clipped them out of the magazine and I still have them. The George Woodbridge drawings were my favorite, but his union soldier with a feather in his forage cap started an affectation that can still be seen today.

[rbrewer]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

I just recieved a copy of LIFE GREAT BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Complete with the driving tour map( before RT 95).
It brought back many memorys , I read this and Bruce Cattons ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE C.W., over and over again in elementary school ( late 1960's), this helped get me hooked.
It was about 9$ w/ shipping off of EBAY.
I clearly remembered the painting of Hoods Troops in farmer D.R. Millers cornfield, especially the soldier with the clay jug as a canteen.
A great post, if I hadnt seen it, I would not have pursued this gem.
Sincerly
Bob Brewer

[Jubilo]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

Dear Sir ,
Hood's Texans in the Cornfield inspired me as a lad too. I always liked the feller firing his musket in shirt sleeves with long sideburns . It should be a mural in Texas ! Ah yes , and the Gallant Pelham , and Dick Dowling , and Mosby ....
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett

[Edwin Carl Erwin]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

Gentlemen,

Would that I could lay my hands on my copy of Life Magazine's Great Battles of the Civil War. Wish I still had those magazine issues also.

As a kid I read that Life Magazine series over & over, whilst imagining myself in the illustrations. My brothers & I would go down to the creek & replay those conflicts with our cap guns. The water moccasins we would kill were given special designation as enemy soldiers.

I would ceaselessly quiz my great grandmother about the campaigns featured in each new issue of Life Magazine. She would patiently tell of her father's experiences in Hood's Texas Brigade & her father-in-law's adventures in Walker's Texas Division. Unfortunately, 7-10 year olds make woefully inadequate historians, & to this day I bitterly regret not getting everything down on paper. I'm writing out what's remembered, but there are details I'd appreciate being able to ask about now.

Anyone know in what issues Life Magazine ran the series?

Regards,

[Ken]

Re: Life Magazine Civil War Illustrations

LIFE Magazine January 6, 1961 The Civil War (First issue)