Mrs. Martha Pawley LaBruce, 1766-1822

I copied this portrait from Charles Fraser, who copied his from Samuel Morse. Painted by Morse at the time of her husbands death, Mrs LaBruce wears the black dress of widowhood. Martha Pawley LaBruce came from two families who held sizable land grants on the Waccamaw (near Charleston), dating back to 1733. She was related through the Pawlies to the Mackies and through the LaBruces to the Allstons and so we're distant cousins (through the Alstons)...as is everyone from the south. Completed April 2012. Sold.

Anne Sherman

The original is a hand colored photograph from 1896, called an opalotype. Interestingly, I began handtinting photos some years before I began the white trash series. The first white trash portraits were painted with Marshals photo oils. I still use them sometimes. Not much is known about the sitter here. Finished April 2012. sold

Thomas Cole (1801-48)

A painter, born in England, the self taught Cole came to America with his parents in 1818 and discovered in the wilderness an inspiration bordering on religious devotion. His landscapes were considered sublimely beautiful and poetic and he was eventually dubbed the founder of the American School of Landscape painting. This portrait was originally painted by Thomas Cummings, close friend of Mr. Cole. Completed 2012. sold.

H. F. Plowden Weston (1738-1827)

A native of England, Weston was a planter at Hagley on the Waccamaw River. He was an active ecclesiologist which may explain his early patronage of a Gothic-style parish church on his property. In addition, he was a bibliophile who printed fine editions and collected manuscripts and books before 1500. original by Charles Fraser, 1824. Considered striking and unique for its portrayal of old age. Graphite on trash, Sold.

Jesse Benton Fremont (1824-1902)

In her memoirs, Jesse recalled that during her childhood she was often at the Capitol with her father, Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, where she was free to browse the Library of Congress books and art plates. She completed her education at Miss English's Female Seminary in Georgetown. Her elopement at 17 to John Charles Fremont, a handsome army surveyor of illegitimate birth, enraged her father but they were forgiven and all was well. She later assisted her husband in writing a popular account of his expeditions on the Oregon Trail. Complete February 2012. sold

William Samuel Johnston (1795-1883)

Married Laura Woolsey (see portrait titled, Mrs Laura Johnston). Not much more info to be found on this fellow although I suspect he was related to William Samuel Johnston (1727-1819) who was a signer of the Constitution. Both were lawyers from Stratford, Connecticut. Like father, like son, back in the day. Completed December 2011. sold.

Hore Browse Trist (1775-1804)

Hore Browse Trist was the only son of Lt. Nicolas Trist, a British soldier stationed in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War, and Elizabeth House, the daughter of Quakers.  Hore graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1792 and began to practice law. In 1799, when the original miniature was painted, he married Mary Brown, later had two sons and moved to Virginia. For the next ten years, Hore was deployed to work in Louisiana and in 1804 the year they were finally united, Hore died of yellow fever. The family was in close ties with Thomas Jefferson, who was a supporter and benefactor. Original by Jean Pierre Henri Louise. Collection of Yale. This, completed February 2012. Sold.