First Minnesota At Gettysburg

I have finally finished this painting "The Spartans Of Gettysburg" after about 7 variations. I wanted to capture the moment at Gettysburg when the First Minnesota Volunteers all 262 of them were ordered by General Hancock to charge down a hill into 1,800 Alabama soldiers moving up the hill. General Hancock needed time to rush in reinforcements to counter the 11000 man force forming behind the Alabaman's that were rapidly moving into positions to flank the Union lines -- "five minutes time," he'd write later. So he ordered Col. William Colvill and his men to charge the larger Rebel force to gain time to get his reinforcements into position.

“Every man in the first Minnesota realized in an instant what that order meant; death or wounds to us all, the sacrifice of the regiment, to gain a few minutes’ time and save the position and probably the battlefield," wrote Lt. William Lochren of the First Minnesota. Though the Minnesotan unit was outnumbered five to one they did not hesitate and lunged forward with fixed bayonets in a spectacular charge that could in all fairness be called suicidal.

The Alabamans were disorganized and winded after charging nearly a mile, and the sudden attack by the small group of Minnesotans caught them off guard. The Confederates were momentarily thrown back; but they regained cohesion, and then delivered staggering fire into the Yankees.

The First Minnesota was virtually destroyed within ten minutes. Only 47 soldiers made their way back to the ridge. Colvill was seriously wounded, one of 215 casualties. The Rebels were repelled and Hancock succeeded in bolstering the Union line with reinforcements in that 10 minutes--but at a great sacrifice. 82 percent of the First Minnesota men were killed or wounded the highest casualty rate of the any American unit in any war. Hancock succeeded in bolstering the Union line with reinforcements in that 10 minutes, and the Alabamans were forced to retreat.

"I would have ordered that regiment in if I had known every man would have been killed," Hancock wrote. "It had to be done."

"They had not taken the Alabama flag, but they had held on to their own,' Historian Shelby Foote wrote. "And they had given Hancock his five minutes plus five more for good measure."

The Next Day the First Minnesota Helped Repel Pickett's Charge
Decimated as it was, the First Minnesota was not finished fighting at Gettysburg. Two companies that had been detached from the regiment, rejoined the unit, bringing the numbers back up to 150 men. On the third day of the battle, the Minnesotans were called in to help smother Pickett's Charge -- the climatic Confederate attack led by Gen. George E. Pickett. The First Minnesota suffered 45 more casualties, but Pvt. Marshall Sherman managed to capture the colors of the 28th Virginia. This flag which I have seen is today at the Minnesota History Museum.

This acrylic painting measures 24"x 36" and the original is still available. Signed Giclee prints with an image size of 20" x 15.5" are available for $250.00. Other sizes are available with framing options. Email me at steve@bergerfinearts.com if interested.

JFK Poster Go Ahead and Call Me a Liberal

Well you can sure tell its election time. A lot of interest in this print with the included speech from JFK dated September 14th 1960.

So here it is a limited edition run of this 17" and 3/4" x 26" image area only Giclee print for $125.00. Each piece is signed and numbered and is guaranteed to be a draw in any room it occupies. If you need framing options please let me know and I can show you and price a style that fits the piece.

Email me if interested in ordering prints or framing options at steve@bergerfinearts.com

Jack Kennedy Painting

After Painting sports legend Vince Lombardi and Marilyn Monroe the famous screen actress I had to finish the famous celebrity series with a political icon.

JFK was a natural choice for me, Abe Lincoln was close and I actually started one of Abe but with the Marilyn Monroe connections and the lack of JFK portraits in a natural setting like this the choice was made much easier for me. I will finish Abe later and post here.

This JFK original measures 18" in length by 9" wide and is painted in colors that reflect the other two paintings in the series. The image painted I think fits the personality of JFK and his tone of politics. If you are looking for a series of original art to finish off a media room or entertainment area this is the series that will always draw comments.

This image is for sale and signed limited edition Giclee prints are available at the original size for $180.00. Email: steve@bergerfinearts.com to order.

Babe Ruth New York Yankees Painting

After a disappointing sweep of the Twins by the New York Yankees I was compelled to paint this picture of Babe Ruth. Read into it what you will. This image is slightly cut off at the bottom but signed Giclee prints are available of this 7.50x15" acrylic painting for $125.00. Mailed in a shipping tube this print is sure to bring comments to any room. Allow a week for delivery. Contact: steve@bergerfinearts.com for orders. Visa & MasterCard accepted.

I just can not seem to get this painting done the way I want it. So here is the night version of the Wayzata depot circa late 1800's. I now have a day and a night version and am not working on modern day version anytime soon. It seems to me that their are many current versions of this historic depot. Prints will be available just contact me at: steve@bergerfinearts.com. and let me know the size you are looking for.

Vince Lombardi Painting

I had to add this one to my second of three celebrity paintings especially since football season is just around the corner.

The colors of this on the original of this painting are much different than what shows here but monitors can never reproduce color accurately anyway.

This is another black and white look at a legend of the sixties. This will probably mean the third painting of this series should be black and white too.

Painting with a limited palette of colors is fun, refreshing, challenging and very rewarding when it all pulls together.
I like this paintings simplicity. I think this basic image evokes the simplicity of Vince Lombardi's views and approach to football and life. From what I understand of Mr. Lombardi he may have been a complex personality to understand but his complicated personality understood how to get the best results from people. His basic philosophy was to break complicated tasks down to their simplest of components in order to perfect techniques through repetition and familiarity. His ability to do this is what made him a great coach. In my opinion anyway.

Trophy Buck Painting

This is a painting I just finished for all the avid deer hunters out there. You know who you are and you know this picture, its the scene you can't ever get out of your mind.

You have been out hunting all day and are just about to call it quits when you see the one that you wait all your life to see. The king in front of his castle, staring right back at you. In a second he was there and just as fast he disappears back into his castle. Now you get the essence of this painting and the reason it is titled "A King Leaving His Castle". This JPEG Image to the right does not due justice to the colors of the original but at least you will get an idea of what it looks like.

The original painting measures 17"x24" and when framed is very impressive whether you are a deer hunter or not. Signed Giclee print of this painting are available in the size of 15"x22" for $150.00. Email: steve@bergerfine arts if interested in purchasing or other available sizes.

Oh, and Mike B, if you are out there this ones for you. Never say never.