Posted on 08/06/2013 6:31:41 AM PDT by DFG
Civil War photographer Mathew Brady largely taught himself the finer points of the two pursuits that have linked his name to history: taking pictures and self-promotion. The son of Irish immigrant farmers had a talent for cajoling presidents, generals and business leaders to sit before his camera.
Other than his birth around 1823 in Warren County, N.Y., little is recorded about Brady's early life, a challenge for biographer Robert Wilson. Yet readers of 'Mathew Brady: Portraits of a Nation' probably benefit from this dearth of personal information.
Wilson moves quickly to what matters most - Brady's role in how we see America in the mid- to late 19th century.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Holy cow, now this is a coincidence. I was just reading about this guy not two nights ago, how he died practically blind and broke. After the war was over nobody was interested in photos from it and he had invested everything he had in them and *poof* like overnight he lost everything. I think they said at his peak he had 18 people working for him taking photos during the war and he photographed just about every celebrity alive. In other words he was like an Annie Lebovitz except he lost everything.
He isn’t, it is just the picture angle that makes it look so...
bump for later
Ohhhh I had to do a double take!
This is one of my all time favorite photos from the civil war just amazing
...it vividly shows just what a stinking, slimy mess most of these encampments were...almost as bad as some of the reenactor camps that I used to participate in...
MajGen George Washington Custis Lee, CSA.
Contrary to popular legend, he was much loved in the South after the War. That was because he believed in "total war - but total peace" and opposed the Radical Republicans' vengeful oppression of the South.
He was an honored guest at many Confederate Veterans' association meetings, including the Eufaula Camp UCV of which my gg grandfather was Commander.
bttt
And I don’t think he was that old in that photo, maybe in his early 40s if you can believe it. No, he was in his early -mid 40s, I just looked it up. Born 1820. Amazing. War is all hell, that’s what he said. I read his autobiography, he called the Confederates “Democrats” lol
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My great-grandmother was named Brady and it’s rumored she was related to him. I’ve always wanted to find out.
bttt
Can you imagine what those eyes have seen?
This is a great photo portrait.
I think Sherman is my all time favorite American General... maybe because of this picture.
With what I know from having read about his character and given this photo, he looks like a perfect SOB! This is the image of command, authority AND personal and professional resolve.
He has a face that would scare the s^%$ out of me if I was a Confederate soldier.
Lincoln on the front line w/ one of his generals.
Thanks for posting this. Pics at the link are awesome.
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