A review of 100 ambrotypes, cartes de visite, and tintypes published in Military Images over the last decade reveals that tents in camp scenes are ubiquitous in paintings designed as backdrops in portraits of U.S. military personnel during the Civil War years. Flags and artillery (field cannon and mortars) are a distant second. A likely explanation for the prevalence of such scenes is that photographers and artists created studio settings that mimicked the multitude of camps that became a significant part of American culture from 1861 to 1865.
SPREAD THE WORD: We encourage you to share this story on social media and elsewhere to educate and raise awareness. If you wish to use any image on this page for another purpose, please request permission.
LEARN MORE about Military Images, America’s only magazine dedicated to showcasing, interpreting and preserving Civil War portrait photography.
VISIT OUR STORE to subscribe, renew a subscription, and more.