Artist. He grew up in Europe where his father John Gadsby Chapman was also a professional artist. When the Civil War started in 1861, he returned to America and then enlisted in Company D, of the Third Kentucky Infantry for the CSA. In 1862, during the Battle of Shiloh, he was wounded. He was then transferred to the 46th Virginia Infantry and later also served with the 59th Virginia Infantry at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm in 1864. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, in September of 1863, he was commissioned for paintings of the city of Charleston's defenses. These paintings were to be used by Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard to gain support for his defense of the harbor of Charleston. Many of the paintings were painted in Italy while he was on a long furlough beginning in March of 1864 to visit his sick mother, including a few that were painted by his father. During the Civil War, he was one of the few Confederate soldiers to paint battle scenes. After the war, he traveled to Mexico and painted the Valley of Mexico series. He also traveled to France and England and returned to Mexico in 1883. He married his wife, Laura Georgiana Seager, in Mexico in 1892. His paintings were displayed by the Union League Club in New York City in 1898. In 1899, he moved to Richmond, Virginia, and sold his Charleston paintings to Granville G. Valentine, who later donated them to the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, which became the Museum of the Confederacy and later the American Civil War Museum, where the paintings still reside. After his death, his remaining artwork was donated to the Virginia State Library, and they traded them to the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia in 1941.
Artist. He grew up in Europe where his father John Gadsby Chapman was also a professional artist. When the Civil War started in 1861, he returned to America and then enlisted in Company D, of the Third Kentucky Infantry for the CSA. In 1862, during the Battle of Shiloh, he was wounded. He was then transferred to the 46th Virginia Infantry and later also served with the 59th Virginia Infantry at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm in 1864. While stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, in September of 1863, he was commissioned for paintings of the city of Charleston's defenses. These paintings were to be used by Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard to gain support for his defense of the harbor of Charleston. Many of the paintings were painted in Italy while he was on a long furlough beginning in March of 1864 to visit his sick mother, including a few that were painted by his father. During the Civil War, he was one of the few Confederate soldiers to paint battle scenes. After the war, he traveled to Mexico and painted the Valley of Mexico series. He also traveled to France and England and returned to Mexico in 1883. He married his wife, Laura Georgiana Seager, in Mexico in 1892. His paintings were displayed by the Union League Club in New York City in 1898. In 1899, he moved to Richmond, Virginia, and sold his Charleston paintings to Granville G. Valentine, who later donated them to the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, which became the Museum of the Confederacy and later the American Civil War Museum, where the paintings still reside. After his death, his remaining artwork was donated to the Virginia State Library, and they traded them to the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia in 1941.
Bio by: Lanie
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