My favorite Civil War artist Mort Künstler died in Rockville Center, New York, on February 2, 2025. He was 97 years old. I first became aware of Mort’s art when my wife and I were on a cross country trip to Colorado 25 years ago. We stopped at a small shop selling Civil War art in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Of all the artist’s work on display his stood out. His photorealistic style, use of light and shadows, and choice of key moments in the war to paint amazed me. I bought a few limited edition artist proofs to get framed. Over the years I purchased his art books, jigsaw puzzles, calendars and trading cards. I never got a chance to meet him in person which I will always regret. Rest in peace Mort, your many fans will miss you.

“Mort Künstler is the foremost Civil War artist of our time — if not of all time. To study his paintings is to simply see history alive.” James Robertson Jr., Professor, Virginia Tech University.

From findagrave– During a career which spanned seven decades, he will perhaps be remembered for his realistic and detailed paintings of the Civil War. Born into a European Jewish family (some sources state date of birth as 1931), his interest in drawing was sparked during his youth. While attending Brooklyn College, he focused on sports and excelled in football, track & field and swimming which led to a scholarship to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, after his father suffered a heart attack, Mort returned home where he enrolled at the Pratt Institute to resume his artist interest. An excursion to Mexico on a motorcycle with a classmate, led to further experience painting and after graduation, he landed a position at Neeley Associates Illustration Studio as an apprentice. He became a freelance artist and found work for various men’s adventure magazines, in addition to artwork for paperbacks. This led to opportunities with The Saturday Evening Post and National Geographic Magazine. During the 1970s, he produced movie posters for the motion pictures The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Taking of Pelham, One Two, Three (1974). His Civil War artwork became official US Postage Stamps during the 1990s. In 2011, his portrayal of George Washington crossing the Delaware River was unveiled. His works are displayed in museums nationwide, as well as in Canada and Europe.