Nicola Marschall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicola Marschall
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Self Portrait of Nicola Marschall
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| Born | March 16, 1829 St. Wendel, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
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| Died | February 24, 1917 (aged 87) |
| Known for | Designing the Confederate Uniform and the Confederate Flag |
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Nicola Marschall (born March 16, 1829 – died February 24, 1917) was a talented German-American artist. He is best known for his work during the American Civil War. He designed the first flag for the Confederate States, called the "Stars and Bars." He also created the official grey uniform for the Confederate army.
Contents
Nicola Marschall's Life Story
Early Life and Moving to America
Nicola Marschall was born on March 16, 1829, in St. Wendel, Germany. His family was wealthy and worked as tobacco merchants.
In 1849, when he was 20, Marschall moved to the United States. He arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana. From there, he traveled to Mobile, Alabama, to live with a relative.
An Artist and Teacher
In 1851, Marschall moved to Marion, Alabama. He started teaching art there. First, he taught in his own portrait studio. Later, he taught at the Marion Female Seminary. During this time, he went back to Germany for a short visit. He wanted to improve his art skills even more.
Designing the Confederate Flag and Uniform
The American Civil War was a big conflict in the United States. It was fought between the Northern and Southern states. Nicola Marschall supported the Southern states, also known as the Confederacy.
A woman named Mary Clay Lockett asked Marschall to join a contest. The goal was to create a new flag for the Confederate States. Marschall's design was chosen. It became the very first Confederate flag, known as the "Stars and Bars." This flag was first raised in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 4, 1861.
During the Civil War, Marschall also served in the Confederate army. He was part of the Second Regiment of Confederate Engineer Troops.
Painting Famous Faces
After the war, Marschall returned to Marion. He married Martha Eliza Marshall.
Throughout his career, Marschall painted many important people. He painted portraits of Jefferson Davis, who was the president of the Confederacy. He also painted Abraham Lincoln, the president of the United States. Other famous people he painted included Otto von Bismarck from Germany. He also painted many families from the Southern states.
Marschall was one of the few artists who got to paint Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest was a well-known Confederate general. Marschall also created many landscape paintings and religious artworks. He often signed and dated his portraits with a steel pen while the paint was still wet. He usually did this in the bottom-right corner.
Later Life and Legacy
After the Civil War, times were tough in the South. Because of this, Marschall moved back to Mobile in 1872. In 1873, he and his family moved to Louisville, Kentucky. His friends told him it would be easier to find people who wanted their portraits painted there.
In 1876, he won a medal for his portraits. This was at a big event called the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia.
Marschall stopped painting portraits in 1908. He passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 24, 1917. He was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery.
Gallery
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Young Girl with Cat, 1859
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Mary Susan Robins, 1859
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The Hale Child, 1863
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Nicola Marschall, 1881
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Napoleon Lockett, 1883
See also
In Spanish: Nicola Marschall para niños
