American Civil War Wounded Soldier, RB Bontecou, MD, 1865

This page is from Dr. Reed Brockway Bontecou’s teaching album. Photographs from this album are the most artistic and desirable of all wounded Civil War soldier images. They were taken during the war by Dr. Bontecou and were used in teaching medical procedures, wound evaluation, and healing techniques. Bontecou photographs are the seminal source of images of wounded warriors of the American Civil War. The faces of these wounded men stare back at us through time.
 
Reed Brockway Bontecou (1824–1907) was an American surgeon and photographer. Wounded Civil War soldier photographs by Bontecou have been in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Orleans Museum of Art, Gibbes Museum, Merchant House Museum, Neon Gallery (Sweden), and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Shooting Soldiers (2011) by Stanley B. Burns, MD showcases these poignant images. The resilience and power of human body and spirit are on display in this visual record of the casualties of war and of the physician’s ability to help and heal.
 
On back:
Judson Spofford, Hospital Number 20,429
Judson Spofford, private Company K, 10th Vermont Vols., was admitted to Harewood U.S.A. General Hospital April 2nd 1865, with a gunshot flesh wound of chest received at Fort Fisher Va., March 25th 1865, the ball entered about two inches from right nipple passing transversely trough integuments, coming out one and one half inches from left nipple. Transferred to Vermont April 20th, 1865.
Harewood U.S. A. General Hospital, R.B. Bontecou, Surgeon U.S. Vols., In Charge
 
Photographer:  Reed brockway Bontecou, MD
Format: Albumen Print
Size: 5 x 7 oval 10 x 12 mat
Condition: Very Good