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By Allison Brody Champion
Staff Writer

 

	"Before the Ball," a painting in progress, by Mort Künstler, was inspired by Civil War Culpeper. On March 18 he will unveil his finished project.

Civil War Culpeper has once again inspired historical artist Mort Künstler to pick up his brush. On March 18, Künstler will unveil his "Before the Ball" - a West Davis streetscape featuring the arrival of General Jeb Stuart and his wife as an 1863 party of the formal type.

On April 1, the nationally known painter will arrive in Culpeper for a weekend back in time.

"It's exciting for me as well as for Culpeper," said Künster. "I love going where my art is appreciated."

The painting "Before the Ball" is based on a photograph taken in 1862, at the height of the Civil War, by photographer Timothy O'Sullivan (1840 - 1882). The image is part of the Library of Congress collection - "Selected Civil War Photos (1861 - 1865)" - and can be viewed online at the American Memory Web site.

Snapped looking east from the end of West Davis Street, O'Sullivan's street scene, in the distance, captures the faint steeple of the Old Culpeper Baptist Church.

At front of the dirt street photograph are wagons and blurry images of people. On the northeast corner of Main and East Davis is the Culpeper Courthouse, erected around 1808 and auctioned in 1870. Construction on the current courthouse at the end of West Davis Street started that same year and court was first help in the new building in 1873.

Next to the 1808 courthouse in O'Sullivan's photo is the boyhood home of General A.P. Hill, though looking much different than it does today. Across the street is a residence with a porch. Here, in front of the home, Künster's painting comes to life.

The Painting

Candlelight and Roses, 1998 painting by Mort Künstler is a prequel to "Before the Ball" a painting he is working to finish for a March unveiling.

"Before the Ball" has not been unveiled, but fans can check out its progress at MortKunstler.com.

The summer scene is a prequel to Künster's "Candlelight and Roses" from 1998, which depicts Stuart inside at the ball in downtown Culpeper.

I thought, "Why not paint the prequel to the ball?" "People could be watching with excitement as Stuart and his wife arrive at the ball." Künstler said on his Web site. "It would give me an opportunity to showcase the courthouse and church in the background."

In the painting, it is June 4, 1863 and the flags of war are prominently displayed. On a bricked street, a crowd of well-dressed men and women have gathered in anticipation of the downtown ball and to watch Gen. Stuart lend a hand to his wife as she steps from the carriage. A simple skyline to the east features the A.P. Hill boyhood home, the courthouse and the church steeple.

Less than a week later, history tells us, the party in Culpeper would have definitely been over. On June 9, 1863, the largest cavalry battle ever - 17,000 mounted troops - waged war on the battlefields of Brandy Station. The battle claimed nearly 1,100 casualties and was the opening engagement of the Gettysburg Campaign.

Coming to Culpeper On April 1, Künstler, a resident of Oyster Bay, N.Y., will arrive in Culpeper for two days of Civil War-related events. Patrick Falci, the actor who portrayed A.P. Hill in "Gettysburg," will also be in town.

On April 2, Künstler will host a signing of his prints and books at the Depot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In Culpeper, the sole authorized dealer of his artwork is Village Frameworks & Gallery.

Lou Price, co-owner of Village Frameworks, said the reserve list for "Before the Ball" is already steadily growing. The $225 prints will arrive in her Main Street shop in March. Price said only 750 prints of Künstler's latest work are being released nationwide.

"This is a biggie," she said of his visit. "It's really a nice thing for someone of his reputation and talent to make a stop in Culpeper."

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