On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

[Union Soldier in Dress Coat, Seated, before Painted Backdrop (left); Union Soldier in Winter Overcoat, Standing, in Full Marching Order (right)]

Unknown

Not on view

In this double-portrait case, the tinted, "sunburned" cheeks and vacant look of the soldier at right suggest he has already witnessed firsthand the killing fields. He appears to have been to the abyss and back. In period jargon, he has "seen the elephant."

[Union Soldier in Dress Coat, Seated, before Painted Backdrop (left); Union Soldier in Winter Overcoat, Standing, in Full Marching Order (right)], Unknown (American), Ambrotype; tintype

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

[Union Soldier in Dress Coat, Seated, before Painted Backdrop (left); Union Soldier in Winter Overcoat, Standing, in Full Marching Order (right)], Unknown (American), Ambrotype; tintype
[Union Soldier in Dress Coat, Seated, before Painted Backdrop (left); Union Soldier in Winter Overcoat, Standing, in Full Marching Order (right)], Unknown (American), Ambrotype; tintype
[Union Soldier in Dress Coat, Seated, before Painted Backdrop (left); Union Soldier in Winter Overcoat, Standing, in Full Marching Order (right)], Unknown (American), Ambrotype; tintype
[Union Soldier in Dress Coat, Seated, before Painted Backdrop (left); Union Soldier in Winter Overcoat, Standing, in Full Marching Order (right)], Unknown (American), Ambrotype; tintype

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.