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	Angel of Marye's Heights

Mort Künstler's paintings are a journey through American history.

His immense compilation of word ranges from prehistorical American life and Lewis and Clark's westward journey to World War II and the voyage of the first space shuttle.

Thousands upon thousands of people have seen Künstler's oil paintings as part of permanent collections, traveling exhibitions, one-man shows and commissioned projects.

Since the 1980s, though, Künstler has become the premier American artist of the Civil War, focusing exclusively on the topic. Many of his paintings focus on lesser-known moments of the famous conflict.

The 73-year-old artist enjoys the best of both worlds - critical acclaim from artists and historians and wide-spread popularity from the public.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson says, "no one captures the human element, the aura of leadership, the sense of being there and sharing in the drama quite like Mort Künstler."

Künstler's latest book, "The Civil War Art of Mort Künstler," is now available through Greenwich Workshop Press. The 224-page book is the definitive collection of Künstler's major paintings chronicling the Civil War. Other books featuring his work are still available.

"I found a home with Civil War paintings," says Künstler of Oyster Bay, NY. "I paint scenes that have never been painted before. I'm a narrative artist and try to get into the subject matter not explored by artists."

Wendy Colson of Colson Art Printing, Valdosta, GA, says Künstler "is such an authority of the Civil War." The company produces his open editions, limited edition prints and giclée prints, and all his marketing materials.

"It's such an honor because of the type of work he produces," Colson says. "Mort is a real person. He is very knowledgeable and understanding of the printing industry but he is truly an artist at heart. His quality and detail of his paintings is amazing."

Künstler's art career began in the mid-1950s as an illustrator in New York for several books and magazine publishers. He later became affiliated with National Geographic, where his signature meticulousness took root. "You can't be an expert on everything," he says. "You have to ask questions."

By the 1970s, Künstler's work caught the eye of serious art collectors thanks in part to his still-current affiliation with Hammer Galleries in New York City, where he sells his original paintings and hosts his solo shows.

Throughout his career, Künstler's body of work includes movie posters such as "The Poseidon Adventure" and a painting of the Buffalo Soldiers for a stamp released by the U.S. Postal Service in 1994.

Although known today for his Civil War paintings, Künstler believes he will be best remembered for his paintings of the launching and touch down of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981. He was only one of two artists commissioned to paint a series of paintings of the historic event.

Künstler's meticulous research, which is evident in his highly detailed paintings capturing U.S. history, will be his legacy.

"I always tell myself, 'Why am I doing this painting?'" Künstler says. "I always loved anything I painted. So if you have done a subject before, you have to feel you can do it better the next time it comes up."

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