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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 14, 2007 12:50:47 GMT -5
The DeRose portrait was also licensed to a lithographer and made available to the public. The first image I ever saw of the historic Crockett was the litho of the DeRose, printed in Lord's "A Time To Stand". There were prints made from the full length Chapman as well. I've seen them offered for sale at auction occassionally, but they're pricey. The litho of the Chapman was used for the cover of the Crockett bio written by Derr, and was also incorprated into the design of the more recent book by Levy. Jim
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 14, 2007 13:57:28 GMT -5
Must have been the Tinkle book I'm thinking of then. I remember as a kid I used to copy that picture all the time. For years, the only three Alamo books I owned (other than children and young adult titles) were the Tinkle, Lord, and Myers titles. I discovered Shackford on a visit to the Alamo and scoured the bibliography for anything else. In the days before internet access, it was hard work finding anything. Jim
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Post by stuart on Jun 14, 2007 14:07:44 GMT -5
Thanks for posting that one; not seen it in glorious technicolour before. Although I've obviously never met the guy, this one does seem a whole lot more convincing than the others.
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 14, 2007 17:34:57 GMT -5
I like the DeRose portrait too. He's not the artist that Harding was, but he's pretty good and there are resemblances that are near enough to convince me even more of Harding's accuracy. I see resemblances to the Chapman bust portrait as well, so between the three I think we have a relatively accurate idea of Crockett's appearance. The Shegogue portrait is interesting in that it's a frontal view. Most of the others are at a 3/4 angle. Jim
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Post by billchemerka on Jun 15, 2007 7:24:33 GMT -5
I'm a bit confused about which Chapman is which; there's a version on the cover of Mark Derr's book; another on Hauk's book, but can you give me a citation where I can find the bust portrait? Is any one of them the original that was destroyed in the fire at the Texas Capitol? AW James A. Shackford noted on p. 289 of his David Crockett: The Man And The Legend that the so-called "bust portrait" Chapman painting "...is now in the Alamo, cared for by the 'Daughters of the Republic of Texas.'" A color reproduction of that painting appears on p. 29 of DRT publication The Alamo Long Barrack Museum. The familiar, full-sized Crockett portrait painted by Chapman was destroyed in the Texas State Capitol building fire of Nov. 11, 1881. I had the pleasure to deliver a talk on the various Crockett images at the old Greystone's American History Store on Alamo Plaza on March 5, 2000. The presentation (along with addresses by other Alamo/Crockett historians) was videotaped and subsequently broadcast on C-SPAN's Book TV . On that program I mentioned Crockett's quote about the Samuel Osgood painting being "the only correct likeness that has been taken of me." An 1835 description of Crockett that I reprinted in The Davy Crockett Almanac & Book of Lists (Eakin Press, 2000) clearly underscores the Osgood depiction. The DeRose image, however, is probably more of an actual likeness than Chapman, Harding, et al.
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 15, 2007 9:34:57 GMT -5
I'm a bit confused about which Chapman is which; there's a version on the cover of Mark Derr's book; another on Hauk's book, but can you give me a citation where I can find the bust portrait? Is any one of them the original that was destroyed in the fire at the Texas Capitol? AW Chapman painted a copy of his own full length Crockett portrait that is now in the collection at the Harry Ransom Research Center for the Humanities at UT in Austin. It is smaller than his original, which was destroyed in the fire at the State Capitol in Austin. The painting that appears on the cover of Hauck's book is this Chapman. Here it is: The cover of Mark Derr's book is a copy of the Chapman portrait that was offered for sale to the public as a mezzotint. The engraving is attributed to Charles Stuart, and was issued by the Apollo Gallery in NY in 1839. There is a print in the LOC collection. I've seen editions of this print dated as late as 1950. A comparison with the original Chapman shows quite a few differences. This is the mezzotint: The bust portrait of Crockett by Chapman is at the Alamo, and used to be on display. A very good reproduction of this painting is now on display instead. The orignal remains in their collection, but I understand there were concerns about conserving the condition of the Chapman original, so it is no longer on view. Crockett's dissatisfaction with this bust portrait prompted him to suggest the full-length pose in hunting garb to Chapman. The DeRose watercolor portrait was reportedly painted in 1835, (though I think it's more likely that it was done in 1834) and if so, may be the last portrait of Crockett done from life. I'm working on a comprehensive update to my article on the Crockett paintings that appeared in the first issue of the "Crockett Chronicle". That article focused on the Harding portrait and the connections with Harding's earlier Boone portrait, but touched on some of the other paintings. In the update, I hope to track not only the life portraits, but the engravings and litho copies that were issued. Stay tuned. Jim
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Post by Rich Curilla on Jun 15, 2007 21:17:40 GMT -5
I have always seen more life and heart in the Chapman portraits than in any others. They, to me, are head and shoulders above the others in presenting the inner persona of Crockett. The twinkle, simplicity and wit in his eyes. The very unusual thin-lipped smile -- genuine and simple. Nothing even close to this appears in him in any of the other works. Crockett's liking for others over these could be because the artists made him look the way he wanted to, not the way he did. Technically accurate artists, in my book, lose out to less perfect artists who *capture* the soul of the subject.
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Post by Rich Curilla on Jun 15, 2007 21:24:37 GMT -5
I had always doubted the unusual smile in the close-up Chapman portrait until one day at Alamo Village about five years ago. We had a family that had been here all day, and I talked Alamo a lot to them all. Finally, Dad informed me privately that Mom was a Crockett 4th. great-granddaughter and didn't want it known. I observed Dad's wishes, but studied the woman, looking for resemblance. None. Not one. Then, her little boy (all of about seven years old) smiled at me, and I nearly fell over. It was the smile in the Chapman. The only other time I have ever seen one like it.
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 15, 2007 21:50:52 GMT -5
The Chapman bust is a favorite of mine, too. I think it's second only to the Harding. The Harding also captures Crockett's whimsical side. That trace of a smile is there, but it's a less romanticized portrait. Both fine portraits, IMO. Jim
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 16, 2007 19:30:57 GMT -5
Want to see that prominent bridge of the nose? Take a look at this photograph of Crockett's grandson Robert! If you take away the moustache, I think RW bears a strong resemblance. Jim
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Post by TRK on Nov 20, 2007 16:04:01 GMT -5
A Head's up: I didn't realize until recently that John Gadsby Chapman, painter of the Crockett portraits, was the father of Conrad Wise Chapman, a Confederate Civil War artist of some renown. Ben L. Bassham published an excellent, sumptuously illustrated biography of Conrad Wise Chapman in 1998 (Kent State University Press). Originally $45, Edward R. Hamilton, a remaindered book dealer, has it currently for $9.95: www.edwardrhamilton.com/titles/6/2/8/6288456.htmlThere's a lot of biographical material on John Gadsby Chapman in there, but nothing as far as I can see on his Crockett portraits.
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