Greg Ridley Gilt Copper Panel, Appomattox Surrender

Greg Ridley (Tennessee, 1925-2004) hand hammered panoramic copper with gilt wash relief panel titled "Appomattox Surrender", depicting the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to U. S. General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse, both men depicted standing together with Lee's horse, Traveler, and Grant's horse, Cincinnati. Titled lower margin, signed and dated "02" lower right. Sight - 11 1/4" H x 47 1/4" W. Framed - 14 1/4" H x 50 1/4" W. American, early 21st century. Biography: Greg Ridley was born in Smyrna, TN, and moved with his family to Nashville, TN in 1936. After his service in the US Navy during WWII, he earned a degree in art education from Tennessee State University, and went on to become the first African American to receive a master's degree in fine arts from the University of Louisville. Ridley also attended Fisk University (where he later worked), and where he studied under Aaron Douglas, the Harlem renaissance painter and muralist, who remained a close friend and mentor until his death in 1979. Ridley taught at various Southern universities as well as the City University of New York. One of his last and best known works was the creation of 80 copper panels for the Grand Reading Room of the Nashville Public Library, Nashville, Tennessee. CONDITION: Good condition with scattered oxidation. PHOTOS: Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com