Lot 1383: George Schmidt (American/Louisiana, b.1944)

George Schmidt (American/Louisiana, b.1944), "The Battle of New Orleans", oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right "George Schmidt 06", 40" x 181". Provenance: Private collection, New Orleans, Louisiana. Exhibited: "Satire, Scandal, and Spectacle: The Art of George Schmidt", Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, January 21 through May 26, 2012. Reference: Paul and Lulu Hilliard University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Satire, Scandal, And Spectacle: The Art of George Schmidt , Exhibition Catalogue, 2012, illustrated on page 55. George Schmidt is a painter of history, one who researches his subject matter meticulously and presents his viewer with the known facts, combined with wit and satire. The artist's attention to detail and accuracy are evident in his note about the painting: "I feel confident to claim without fear of contradiction that my painting is probably the most accurate portrayal at present. Thanks in large part to my friend Tim Pickles, an authority on the battle and author of a book entitled "New Orleans, 1815, I have attempted to depict the brevity of this battle accurately. The battle was fought at dawn during one of the coldest winters in memory. It was short in length and small in number of participants. It lasted only two hours with the climax lasting a mere 15 minutes. The British reported 2,037 casualties. Andrew Jackson reported only 13." The cinematic narrative style and grand scope of the canvas are appropriate for the heroic subject matter of the painting, which captures the event that effectively ended the war of 1812. New Orleans Auction Galleries is pleased to offer this important work in our September, 2012 sale, befitting of the 200th anniversary of Louisiana statehood.