William Brooke Thomas Trego (American, 1858–1909) Horse Artillery Unit (The Color Guard)

William Brooke Thomas Trego (American, 1858–1909) Horse Artillery Unit (The Color Guard)

Signed and dated ‘Wm. T. Trego/1884’ bottom left, oil on canvas
20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2cm)

Provenance

Collection of Harry O. Eichleay, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
By descent to his daughter, Helen E. Siegwarth.
Acquired directy from the above in 1971.
The Mellon Bank Corporate Collection, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Acquired from the above in 2006.
Private Collection, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Acquired directly from the above in 2007.
Collection of Sydney F. and Sharon Martin, Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
The Estate of Sydney F. Martin.

Exhibited

"So Bravely and So Well: The Life and Art of William T. Trego," James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, June 3-October 2, 2011.

Literature

William T. Trego Catalogue Raisonné, James A. Michener Art Museum (accessed online at https://www.michenerartmuseum.org/catalogue/trego/, illustrated).

Note

The present Lot serves as a preparatory study for Battery - Halt! of 1885, an imaginary work not linked to any specific battle where this same group of cavaliers can be seen on the left-hand side of the painting. According to Trego's leading expert, Joseph Eckardt, it is the largest and most detailed of all the known preparatory sketches that remain by Trego. The level of detail with which the horses are painted, as opposed to the relatively quick-sketched faces of the soldiers, is unusual, and is a particular trait that can be seen in the final work as well.