Portraying general Thomas Jonathan Jackson praying before the battle of Chancellorsville. I will be making more exciting and varying paintings in the future, but I have found making stagnant images a great way of efficiently learning anatomy and the theme makes it fun to practice.

Meaning:

As our values and christianity is fading and history being erased and manipulated, the story of Thomas Jackson and heroes like him, giving everything in defence of their values are more important than ever to be told and remembered.

History:

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a US second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment during the Mexican-American war and a Confederate general during the American Civil War and is considered to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in U.S. history by Military historians.
Jackson received his famous nickname "Stonewall" July 21, 1861 in the first battle of the civil war, for standing firm with his men under hard hitting federal assaults when all hope seemed lost. Through his time during the war he had great success both in his own Valley campaign and as second in command in the Army of Northern Virginia.
After his great victory together with General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, he was accidentally shot by his own pickets who mistook him for federal cavalry. He survived but lost an arm to amputation and died of complications from pneumonia eight days later. His death was a great setback for the Confederacy and made him an icon of Southern heroism and commitment.
His last words was "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees." and have left many a philosopher and historian and myself wondering of its meaning.