Defiance: Inviting a Shot before Petersburg by Winslow Homer. A soldier stands defiantly on a dirt embankment against a vast, cloudy sky, while other soldiers rest in trenches below, including one playing a banjo.

Defiance: Inviting a Shot before Petersburg

Winslow Homer

1864 · Oil Paint, Panel

A powerful Civil War scene by Winslow Homer depicting a moment of bold defiance under an expansive, atmospheric sky.

$169

For the selected configuration

From $129

6 frame sizes

Frame size
Frame color
Mount
Paper type
Glaze

Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)

Where it works

A balanced work with lively energy in a warmer tonal register — holds a wall without competing for attention.

Often works in
Living Room · Library · Gallery Wall
Placement
Strong over sofas, beds, buffets, or wider open walls
Walls
Works across a broad range of wall colors
Color notes
Charcoal black, Soft cream, Warm beige

About the piece

Painted in 1864, this masterful work by Winslow Homer captures the psychological tension of the American Civil War. The composition contrasts the solitary figure of a soldier standing atop a parapet with the gritty reality of troops in the trenches, including a soldier playing a banjo, all set beneath an expertly rendered sky that dominates the frame.

More like this

The Battle of Montmirail

Contains disturbing content

oil paint

The Battle of Montmirail

Horace Vernet

A sweeping and dramatic Napoleonic battle scene captured with intense atmospheric detail.

Observation of Fire

Contains disturbing content

Moody Landscapes

Observation of Fire

Colin Gill

A striking World War I scene depicting soldiers observing the battlefield through a stylized lens of smoke and ruin.

The Repose

Contains nudity

Figure Studies

The Repose

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot

A poetic and atmospheric landscape by Corot, featuring a reclining figure in a soft, silver-toned setting.