This collection features materials related to the life of Henry ("Harry") Arthur McArdle, an Irish-born painter whose works depicting major events in Texas history - including the battle of San Jacinto and the Alamo - are considered important contributions to the state's artistic heritage. McArdle studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, served under Robert E. Lee in the American Civil War and was Baylor University's first professor of art.
Items in this collection include McArdle's personal journals and account books, correspondence, sketches, drawing aids and other ephemera pertaining to his life's work.
Materials for this collection were contributed by The Texas Collection at Baylor University and by the family of Henry McArdle's descendants. Baylor University is grateful for McArdle's family's assistance in creating this collection.
This collection features materials related to the life of Henry ("Harry") Arthur McArdle, an Irish-born painter whose works depicting major events in Texas history - including the battle of San Jacinto and the Alamo - are considered important contributions to the state's artistic heritage. McArdle studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, served under Robert E. Lee in the American Civil War and was Baylor University's first professor of art.
Items in this collection include McArdle's personal journals and account books, correspondence, sketches, drawing aids and other ephemera pertaining to his life's work.
Materials for this collection were contributed by The Texas Collection at Baylor University and by the family of Henry McArdle's descendants. Baylor University is grateful for McArdle's family's assistance in creating this collection.
About Henry McArdle :
About Henry McArdle :
Henry Arthur McArdle, painter of historical scenes of the Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas, was born in Ireland on 9 June 1836 of French and Irish parents. He began the study of art under the French artist, Sauveur. At fourteen, his parents having died, McArdle came to America to live with an aunt. He studied in Baltimore and in 1860 he won the Peabody Prize at the Maryland Academy of Design. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army and was on Robert E. Lee's engineering staff. McArdle migrated to Texas in 1868. In the course of work with men of Hood's Texas Brigade on the historical canvas, "Lee at the Wilderness," he became interested in Texas history. He established himself in 1870 at Independence, Texas, where he was a professor of art in Baylor Female College. William Carey Crane, the president of Baylor University, recommended McArdle to the governor of Texas as an artist capable of preserving the drama and significance of Texas heroes and scenes. On the removal of Baylor University and Baylor Female College from Independence, McArdle set up a studio in San Antonio. There he devoted his entire time to painting several portraits of Sam Houston, likenesses of various other heroes, and stirring battle scenes. Among the most notable of his historical canvasses are the twin pieces, "Dawn at the Alamo" and "The Battle of San Jacinto," which hang in the hall of the House of Representatives in the Texas Capitol; a full length portrait of Jefferson Davis; and "Deaf Smith Announcing the Destruction of Vince's Bridge." McArdle died in San Antonio on 18 June 1907.
Henry Arthur McArdle, painter of historical scenes of the Texas Revolution and the Republic of Texas, was born in Ireland on 9 June 1836 of French and Irish parents. He began the study of art under the French artist, Sauveur. At fourteen, his parents having died, McArdle came to America to live with an aunt. He studied in Baltimore and in 1860 he won the Peabody Prize at the Maryland Academy of Design. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army and was on Robert E. Lee's engineering staff. McArdle migrated to Texas in 1868. In the course of work with men of Hood's Texas Brigade on the historical canvas, "Lee at the Wilderness," he became interested in Texas history. He established himself in 1870 at Independence, Texas, where he was a professor of art in Baylor Female College. William Carey Crane, the president of Baylor University, recommended McArdle to the governor of Texas as an artist capable of preserving the drama and significance of Texas heroes and scenes. On the removal of Baylor University and Baylor Female College from Independence, McArdle set up a studio in San Antonio. There he devoted his entire time to painting several portraits of Sam Houston, likenesses of various other heroes, and stirring battle scenes. Among the most notable of his historical canvasses are the twin pieces, "Dawn at the Alamo" and "The Battle of San Jacinto," which hang in the hall of the House of Representatives in the Texas Capitol; a full length portrait of Jefferson Davis; and "Deaf Smith Announcing the Destruction of Vince's Bridge." McArdle died in San Antonio on 18 June 1907.
User Notes :
User Notes :
Using This Resource In Your Research?
For access to high-resolution images for the purposes of scholarly research, please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu.
Items in this collection may not be reproduced for commercial use without prior written consent from Baylor University, The Texas Collection, Waco, Texas. Please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu to make such a request.
Restricted Items
Items may have restricted access due to copyright reasons. Items with the following message - "You may need to log in to continue. Access the full asset and its details" - are restriced to public view. For research related access please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu.
Activity Note
This collection is considered an active collection. Items will be added periodically as they are acquired by Baylor University and processed through the Digitization and Digital Collection Preservation Services group.
Historical Context Note
The Baylor University Libraries strive to make our digital collection resources available and useful to our faculty, staff, students, alumni, researchers, and the general public. Through our Web sites, the Libraries offer broad public access to a wide range of information, including historical materials that may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials must be viewed in the context of the relevant time period. Baylor University does not endorse the views expressed in such materials.
Comments, Questions, or Concerns?
Please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu with any comments, questions, or concerns about this collection. Please include the URL to the specific page or item when emailing.
Using This Resource In Your Research?
For access to high-resolution images for the purposes of scholarly research, please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu.
Items in this collection may not be reproduced for commercial use without prior written consent from Baylor University, The Texas Collection, Waco, Texas. Please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu to make such a request.
Restricted Items
Items may have restricted access due to copyright reasons. Items with the following message - "You may need to log in to continue. Access the full asset and its details" - are restriced to public view. For research related access please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu.
Activity Note
This collection is considered an active collection. Items will be added periodically as they are acquired by Baylor University and processed through the Digitization and Digital Collection Preservation Services group.
Historical Context Note
The Baylor University Libraries strive to make our digital collection resources available and useful to our faculty, staff, students, alumni, researchers, and the general public. Through our Web sites, the Libraries offer broad public access to a wide range of information, including historical materials that may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials must be viewed in the context of the relevant time period. Baylor University does not endorse the views expressed in such materials.
Comments, Questions, or Concerns?
Please email digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu with any comments, questions, or concerns about this collection. Please include the URL to the specific page or item when emailing.