Attack on Battery Wagner — 1863, 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regulars under Colonel Robert G. Shaw 

Tom Lovell painted "Attack on Battery Wagner — 1863, 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regulars under Colonel Robert G. Shaw", capturing a moment of intense conflict with vibrant color and dynamic composition. The figures in the foreground are rendered with sharp detail, while the background dissolves into a haze of smoke and sky. Lovell masterfully uses the flag as a focal point, its dynamic ripple drawing the viewer's eye. The figures are positioned in a way that suggests movement and chaos, with bodies sprawled on the ground and soldiers lunging forward, bayonets fixed. The color palette, dominated by blues and tans, enhances the realism of the scene. Consider how the diagonal lines formed by the soldiers' bodies create a sense of instability. This visual device mirrors the historical context, reflecting the social and political unrest of the Civil War era. The painting's structure and the painterly handling of the subject matter evokes the emotional intensity and physical struggle of the battle.