"DEFENDING THE COLORS"

[Len K.]

Hello folks. I just finished painting this giant Ron Tunison sculpture depicting the capture of the 2nd Mississippi flag at Gettysburg on 1 July 1863. It depicts Corporal Whaller of the 6th Wisconsin and Corporal Murphy of the 2nd Mississippi fighting for the flag. The actual flag still exists and is in the Mississippi State Archives. The sculpture is stunning and is approximately 1/6 scale. I started painting it about five years ago and hated the way it was coming out so I shelved it. I started completely over in March and this is the end result.

 

[Tecumsea]

A lovely centerpiece for any collection.

Keith

 

[Chrisr]

Well done indeed. Lovely piece of work.
Chris

 

[MoboSchreuder]

Looks great and well painted

Mobo

 

[Nap]

Hi Len

Great to see you posting your art and it's certainly a lovely result ...as others have said ..a fine centrepiece

Why not enter a piece into the class of your choice in our AUGUST's FOTM comp and also vote in JULY classes as well

....And enter in Vignettes & Diorama #3 running till 31/01/22 ...msg me if needed

Always good to see the artwork

Thanks for sharing

Look forward to the next

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Nick Majerus]

So who won the fight?

 

[Len K.]

Whaller won the fight and the flag was taken to Washington. Several years later it was returned to Mississippi. Murphy laid claim to the flag saying his commanding general told him it it was his when the war ended. The state refused to give him the flag. It was displayed in couple of places and ended up in the State archives. Hurricane Katrina badly damaged the building is was being displayed in, the area where the flag was displayed was destroyed and it was feared that the flag had been washed out to sea. A few years later the flag was found locked in a vault on the second floor. Apparently someone took care to protect the flag before Katrina hit. Today the flag is on display in the Mississippi State Archives.

 

[Scott Sheltz]

Excellent paint work!