Buen Ventura, Savannah, GA

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Barnard published his pioneering book, "Photographic Views of Sherman’s Campaign", in 1866 when photographic technology was still new. Harper’s Weekly noted the book’s 61 Civil War images “surpass any other photographic views which have been produced in this country – whether relating to the war or otherwise.” Large, unwieldy cameras and the complex wet plate development process, which necessitated on-site darkroom wagons and tents, made it impossible for photographers to capture the action of war. Instead, Barnard followed General Sherman’s 1864-65 campaign through Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia to the sea, photographing the silent devastation left in its wake. In 1866 the artist returned to important scenes, such as Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery, pictured here, to complete the survey.

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