San Francisco - The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are pleased to announce an important acquisition made earlier this year that is now on view in the permanent galleries of the de Young Museum. The Phyllis C. Wattis Fund for Major Acquisitions at FAMSF made possible the acquisition of "The Last Civil War Veteran," 1961 by Larry Rivers (1923-2002). Rivers - artist - musician - filmmaker - is widely acknowledged as one of the earliest and most influential pioneers of Pop Art in the United States. His cycle of Civil War Veteran paintings, including "The Last Civil War Veteran," was the most ambitious extended series of his career.

For his mature Pop Art paintings, Rivers borrowed equally from both "good" and "bad" art, not to mention media not considered to be art as all, such as newspaper and magazine photographs and advertising. The resulting works, which often balance unadulterated admiration with an ironic critique, helped to dissolve the barriers that had traditionally separated high art and popular culture.

The central image of "The Last Civil War Veteran" was appropriated from the mass media - specifically from an issue of Life magazine (May 11, 1959) that included an article titled "The Last Survivor of the Civil War."

The painting depicts Walter Williams (1854-1959) lying in bed with a cigar in his mouth and his arms resting on a maritime-themed coverlet. A Confederate dress uniform jacket and hat are hung on the wall behind him, flanked by huge Confederate and Union flags. The photograph is clearly staged for dramatic effect. Shortly after the publication of the article but prior to the creation of the painting, it was revealed that Williams was an imposter. Thus, the Life magazine photograph and Rivers' painting both raise complex questions regarding the definition of "truth" in history, and in the history of art.