The Gettysburg Cyclorama: The Turning Point of the Civil War on Canvas

While thousands of books and articles examine the Battle of Gettysburg, Paul Philippoteaux's massive cyclorama painting depicting Pickett's Charge has received little scholarly attention until now. The Gettysburg Cyclorama: The Turning Point of the Civil War on Canvas is the first comprehensive study of this artwork and historic artifact. This in-depth examination covers the cyclorama's creation, subject matter, restoration (completed in 2008), and exhibition history since its 1884 debut. Chris Brenneman and Sue Boardman document how Civil War veterans interpreted the painting in the late 19th century. Working with photographer Bill Dowling, the authors used modern photography to compare the painting with historic and contemporary landscape images. Dowling's close-up digital photography reveals distant details typically overlooked. The book discusses every officer, unit, terrain feature, and farm depicted in the painting. A significant discovery emerged during research: five years after creation, the cyclorama was substantially modified to include additional soldiers, more flags, and General George Meade, commander of the Union Army. The volume features hundreds of rare historic photographs and modern images of the artwork.