Don Troiani. "For God Sake Forward." A/A

Southbury: Historical Art Prints, 1996. 29 1/2 x 35 5/8 frame. Giclée on paper. 1279/1500. Framed with double matting and preservation glass. Signed in pencil by artist. Contains certificate of authenticity. Excellent condition. 

Don Troiani (born 1949) is an American painter renowned for his highly realistic depictions of American military history, particularly scenes from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. His work is academic in style and is most often executed in oil on canvas or gouache on paper. Troiani is known for using posed models dressed in clothing and equipped with gear from his extensive collection of original uniforms, accoutrements, insignia, and weapons. He also conducts meticulous firsthand research, studying battlefields, weather conditions, and surviving structures to ensure historical accuracy. Some of his original paintings have been exhibited at the Museum of the American Revolution and the Heinz History Center.

This image depicts the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the famed Iron Brigade entering McPherson’s Woods on July 1, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. The regiment, alongside the rest of the Iron Brigade, engaged the Confederate brigade of Brigadier General James J. Archer in a fierce struggle for control of the woods. The Iron Brigade ultimately drove the Confederates from the area, capturing Archer himself, before being forced to retreat later in the afternoon under increasing pressure.

The 2nd Wisconsin suffered extraordinarily heavy losses, sustaining 233 casualties out of approximately 302 engaged—a staggering casualty rate of about 77 percent—making it one of the hardest-hit regiments of the battle. Also depicted is Major General John F. Reynolds, commander of the Union I Corps, shown on horseback urging the men forward. Reynolds was killed shortly after this moment, becoming the highest-ranking Union officer to die at Gettysburg.