Edwin Forbes
Edwin Austin Forbes (1839 – March 6, 1895) was an American landscape painter and etcher who first gained fame during the American Civil War for his detailed and dramatic sketches of military subjects, including battlefield combat scenes.
Also recorded as Edwin C. Forbes · Edwin Austin Forbes
Edwin Forbes

Edwin Forbes · Missouri History Museum URL: http: Gallery · Public domain
- Name
- Edwin Forbes
- Born
- 1839
- Birthplace
- New York City
- Died
- 6 March 1895
- Place of death
- Brooklyn
- Known for
- Landscape painter and etcher
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- painter · etcher
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Edwin Austin Forbes (1839 – March 6, 1895) was an American landscape painter and etcher who first gained fame during the American Civil War for his detailed and dramatic sketches of military subjects, including battlefield combat scenes.
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Edwin Forbes (1839–1895) was an American etcher and painter. Born in New York City, the etcher died in Flatbush. Works by Edwin Forbes are held at National Gallery of Canada, Print Collection and Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Edwin Forbes • Born — 1839 • Birthplace — New York City • Died — 6 March 1895 • Place of death — Brooklyn • Resting Place — Green-Wood Cemetery • Known for — Landscape painter and etcher • Notable Works — Military subjects • Illustration — Poster by Edwin Forbes • Illustration — A stormy march to the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sketched by Edwin Forbes. • Illustration — Saint Patrick's Day celebration in the Army of the Potomac. Depicts a steeplechase race among the Irish Brigade, March 17, 1863, Edwin Forbes. Digitally restored.
Biography
Biography
Forbes was born in New York, studied under Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, and began as an animal and landscape painter. During the Civil War, he was special artist for Frank Leslie's Magazine. Many of the spirited etchings he drew during the conflict were later presented by General Sherman to the government. They are now preserved in the War Office at Washington because of their historic value. After the war, Forbes painted landscape and cattle scenes, among which are "Orange County Pasture" (1879) and "Evening—Sheep Pasture" (1881). In 1877 he was made an honorary member of the London Etching Club. He died in 1895 in Brooklyn and is interred in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Print of a line of wooden shelters with soldiers standing around them. In the nearest shelter a soldier is cooking over a fire. There is a house in background to the right. "The picket line" (written below image). "Copy-righted 1876 by E. Forbes." and "PLATE 33" (printed below image).
Edwin Forbes · Missouri History Museum URL: http: Gallery

Print of three African Americans, a man, woman, and child, and a dog looking into the distance. The woman is kneeling with her arms reaching upward. The man is in the middle, standing with a cane. The boy is standing on the man's other side with the dog. "The Sanctuary" (written below image). "Copy-righted 1876 by E. Forbes." and "PLATE 40." (printed below image).
Edwin Forbes · Missouri History Museum URL: http: Gallery
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New York City.
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Flatbush.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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