Battle of Kearsage and Alabama 1864

Edouard Manet's "The Battle of Kearsarge and Alabama" (1864) depicts a pivotal naval engagement of the American Civil War. The painting, located at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, captures the dramatic moment of the sinking of the Confederate raider CSS Alabama by the Union warship USS Kearsarge. Manet's signature style is evident in the bold brushstrokes and simplified forms, creating a sense of immediacy and realism. This maritime scene, though historically accurate, also served as a study in light, color, and the portrayal of water.