Virtual Art Tour

Don Troiani, American, born 1949

Old Jack

“I am not just an artist painting subjects from history,” stated Connecticut resident Don Troiani. “I’m committed to being a historical artist - combining artistic license with accuracy . . . . It’s a mockery to paint history if you don’t take time to do your research. I have always wanted to paint things as they truly were, so the soldiers, if they were to see the art, would recognize the details.” When asked about his subject matter, Troiani replied, “I’ll never exhaust it. There are still thousands of ideas and questions to be answered about our past. It’s the most challenging and creative of work I can conceive of.”

He paints watercolor studies utilizing his extensive, personal collection of relics, artifacts and memorabilia, before creating his historical military oil paintings. Troiani attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Students League in New York, learning his techniques from the 19th century European historical artists. He is writing his own book on the Civil War and has served as the military and art consultant for such television programs as the Arts & Entertainment Channel’s 1993 Civil War Journal and Discovery Channel’s 1994 Gettysburg Documentary. Troiani is an associate of the Society of American Historical Artists and his works are included in such prestigious collections as West Point, Gettysburg National Military Park and the Smithsonian Institute.

“’Old Jack,’” related Don Troiani, “portrays Stonewall Jackson in ‘the Valley’ of the 1862 Campaign. ‘The Valley’ as most Virginians call it is the Shenendoah Valley of Virginia. The soldiers are tipping their hats to Stonewall as if to say, ‘There’s Old Jack and he wins battles for us. Hooray for Old Jack!’ This painting is a scene of one of those quiet moments in America’s military history.”