Arthur Lumley

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Arthur Lumley came to the United States around 1840, settling in Brooklyn. He studied art at the National Academy of Design and supported himself by doing illustrations for books as well as for New York Illustrated, Harper’s Weekly, and Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. In 1861, Frank Leslie sent Lumley to Washington D.C. as a “special artist” to accompany General Irwin McDowell’s army as it traveled south into Virginia and engaged the Confederate forces at Bull Run Creek. This lead to prolific work in capturing battle scenes of the Civil War. In 1862, he went to work for New York Illustrated, continuing to do wartime drawings. After the war he continued doing illustrations for books, magazines and illustrated newspapers.