Original Civil War Folk Art Painting – “Camp Scene, 1861” by Adolph Reutlinger

Original Civil War Folk Art Painting – “Camp Scene, 1861” by Adolph Reutlinger - Inventory Number: PAI 029

This rare and compelling oil on canvas painting titled “Camp Scene from Camp Union, 1861” captures a vivid and nostalgic view of Union soldier life during the American Civil War. Painted by Adolph Reutlinger, a veteran and self-identified artist, the scene shows soldiers around a campfire with a drummer boy, a distant military encampment, and a curious addition of a white bird—possibly a mascot or symbol of peace—adding both warmth and mystery to the composition.

What makes this piece exceptionally meaningful is the handwritten inscription affixed to the back of the original frame, in the artist’s own hand:

“This Camp Scene (from Camp Union 1861) was sketched by me many years ago, but I only did part of it but very little until the year 1899, put the finishing touches to it June 29, 1905. Being at the time Sixty seven (67) years old.”

— Adolph Reutlinger

This note suggests Reutlinger began the work as a young man—likely based on firsthand experience or memory—and completed it decades later in his retirement, transforming it into a work of both personal and historical memory.

Excellent condition folk art example with age-appropriate craquelure and wear; original inscription intact on the reverse. Accompanied by extensive solder research. Measures 14” x 11”

This is a rare opportunity to acquire an authentic piece of Civil War-era folk art—deeply personal, richly detailed, and documented by the hand of the artist himself. A museum-worthy artifact of soldier memory and artistic reflection.

Adolph Reutlinger is documented in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection for the very painting you’re researching—“Camp Scene, 1861.” This confirms the historical and artistic significance of your piece.

Adolph Reutlinger (1838–1917) was a Civil War veteran and self-taught folk artist. His painting, Camp Scene, 1861, is one of very few known works, and its significance lies in its documented provenance, personal narrative, and veteran perspective. He began the painting based on his memories of Camp Union during the war and completed it in 1905 at the age of 67, as he inscribed on the reverse.

This piece is recognized as a folk art treasure, blending firsthand wartime experience with a naïve, heartfelt style characteristic of late 19th to early 20th-century American folk painters. The Smithsonian’s acquisition validates its importance both artistically and historically.

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Inventory Number: PAI 029