The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Aside from giving me an opportunity to paint horse-drawn artillery in full action, it gave me the chance to portray the “Gallant Pelham” for the first time. I hope the viewer enjoys this painting, the first in a series of strange events of the Civil War. - Mort Künstler

The painting all finished

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Not everybody here at the studio has artistic talent, and we too, are in awe to see that from this “purple” foreground a beautiful landscape will emerge.

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Mort uses anything that is available to him when it comes to painting likenesses, as he is painting Stuart he has a portrait near him for reference as well as a photograph of a horse in motion.

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

As the gunboat gathered steam, its defenders were called back on board and the ship quickly withdrew downstream. Pelham’s men continued to follow it along the water’s edge, firing at the retreating vessel for as long as their horses could keep pace with it.

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Now you can see the riders in motion. Mort loved the opportunity to paint horse-drawn artillery in full action.

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Take a look at how Mort already painted the horses without their riders!!!

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Major John Pelham, a gifted Confederate officer, positioned his horse-drawn artillery along the shoreline and was able to fire several shots that exploded above the Union ship. What followed was a highly unique melee in which cavalry, naval and artillery units engaged one another.

The U.S.S. Marblehead

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

Less than a mile away, the rebel cavalry discovered the Union gunship U.S.S. Marblehead, anchored on the nearby Pamunkey River, close to the shoreline. Stuart immediately ordered a detachment of his men to attack the ship and prevent its escape. As they neared, Federal troops disembarked and began firing on the horsemen.

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

The summer of 1862 witnessed one of the most unusual skirmishes of the entire American Civil War.

Confederate cavalry commander Jeb Stuart received information that there were 5,000 Union soldiers guarding a nearby depot and decided to attack. As the sun rose the following day, Stuart’s troopers arrived at the location, only to find that the enemy had already departed.

The only preliminary sketch Mort did for this painting.

As always, Mort draws his final composition on brown paper so he can highlight with chalk where the lighting effect will take place.

The Making of "The Strangest Race"

I constantly read Civil War books, searching for incidents that will make interesting paintings. While reading JEB Stuart, The Last Cavalier by Burke Davis, I discovered an account of a unique engagement that took place along the Richmond-York Railroad on June 28, 1862. – Mort Künstler