One of the best things about sharing parts of my work and life here on this blog is connecting with people of similar interests, kindred spirits, and even extended family. When I was going through my family photos in early 2021 as a part of organizing the house, I came across an article about my third-great-grandmother, Lucy Gwyn Estes Vaughan. I shared that article along with other family photos here on the blog in THIS POST and I received a wonderful e-mail in response.
Before I get to the e-mail, Alice J Kyle is really a lovely writer. I love how she closed the 101st birthday tribute with the quote, “She is ‘nearing the journey’s end, where time and eternity blend. Soon she will be stepping ashore and finding it Heaven, be taking a hand and finding it God’s, be waking and finding it Home.'”
This was the e-mail I received…
“My sister sent me your blog article on saving family photos, and I got a chuckle because I just inherited boxes of family photos and letters – and – I am the great-great-granddaughter of Lucy Gwynn Estes Vaughan and her namesake. My grandmother was a first cousin of Garland Vaughan, Rosa’s brother, who was killed in a car accident along with her brother, Estes Howard. My grandmother took me to meet Rosa when I was young. …if you are ever in the D.C. area please let me know so I can show you some of the family things I have.”
Since I was living in Minnesota at the time, I passed the e-mail along to my mom. She lives in Gettysburg, PA, which is a bedroom town of the DC area and the likelihood of them getting together was pretty high. They did get together and Lucie shared some new pictures of Lucy, our shared great-grandmother…
I loved reading about how Lucy liked to keep her hands busy and here was an example of that. I don’t know if this portrait was arranged or was more of a candid shot, but if it was orchestrated, I can imagine her saying, “Oh, wait a minute. Let me grab my knitting so that can be in the picture.” Who knows, but my imagination takes over.
Even though I never knew Lucy, I can feel a kinship with her as I started knitting a couple of years ago. I wish I had the chance to sit with her, hands busy with knitting, and hearing stories about her childhood, living through the Civil War, and watching the world change with modern advancements like photography, the telephone, and automobiles. What a life.
It strikes me how even at 100 years old and sitting in a wheelchair, she is wearing tailored coats, frilly collared shirts, and fancy brooches.
The picture I was most excited about was one of Lucy as a young woman. By her age and the fashion, it’s safe to guess this photo was taken in the mid-1800s and likely around the time of the Civil War. It looks like a still shot right out of Ken Burns’s Civil War documentary. The parted hair and ringlets, the corsetted waist, and the lace gloves.
When I first saw the photo, I knew I wanted to paint it. Since the first portrait I painted, I have felt drawn to bringing old sepia-tones photos to life in oils. So, when I was at the lake house in Virginia, I set aside an afternoon to paint Lucy.
I don’t know if her eyes were blue or brown, but I picked brown because of her dark hair. In hindsight, I think they may have been blue given the strong line of blue-eyed people in my family. Everyone I can think of has some shade of blue or gray eyes. Whether the eye color is accurate or not, I love how the portrait turned out and I will be hanging her in a gilt frame somewhere in our new house.
And this was all because of a connection made through a blog post about organizing here on this blog. I definitely have my criticisms of the internet and social media, but there are wonderful things about them as well. They’ve made the world smaller, and more connected, and have brought people together who might’ve otherwise never known of each other.
Speaking of paintings, I will be back in Gettysburg next week and I plan to put together an art sale of the paintings I’ve been working on this summer including some landscapes, seagulls, paintings from Isle of Palms, and a few master studies. I’ll share about that next week!
21 Responses
Fantastic story behind your latest subject, Marian. Your interpretation of her is just beautiful. I’ll be looking for your art sale of summer work!
Wow, it was my pleasure meeting you years ago in Toronto. I have been following you for years! You are so talented and we love a lot of the same things! I have been collecting portrait oil on canvas for years! Well anything oil on canvas.? just love it all. It does not matter that their not family. The art, the talent and the stories they tell. This portrait of yours is exactly what I am drawn to. Just beautiful you are so talented, along with the provenance.
My beloved grandmother was born in 1899 and lived 92 years.
Moved in a covered wagon when she was 3. Remembers seeing her first electric lightbulb. Lived through flu epidemic, two world wars plus others, and the great depression. Strong women. Their faith sustained them.
What a lovely lady. Thank you for sharing her. She is beside you. You have her gifts…never doubt that the women before you stand with you now. They lift us up.
What a fascinating story! And your portrait of her brings the photo to life, very beautiful 🙂
what a neat story + lovely oil painting! also, don’t you just love EVERYTHING purl soho does?!
Being a portrait artist in my earlier life I look at every detail. Her gaze is a little off but I don’t care because this painting is just so beautifully captured. When I did portraits I would get very attached as you have to capture it all. How did you feel when you were done? What a wonderful post you shared. I love to read/listen to these stories as it shows our threads as each generation passes down something in our spiritual dna. This is just beautiful. Look forward to more! A few years back as I was driving back to KC from Wash DC I got lost and ended up in Gettysburg. It was nothing short of humble amazement. I look forward to your next post!!
My grandmother X 5 was 100 years old and lived in Nelson Co, VA when George Washington became president. Very small world! I think they may have known each other.
That is possible! I am actually related to George Washington as well (not through Lucy Gwyn.) His younger brother, Charles, was my 7th great-grandfather.
The fact that you’ve painted “Lucy” in oils is a true gift to your family background……..what a wonderful blessing!
When you get settled you should join the DAR!
The history of our families is as important to us along with the history of our wonderful country which is so necessary to stress these values to the next generations so they will appreciate what our ancestors have done before us to make our country strong. And I am so worried about the future if we continue to destroy monuments that stand tall in our communities to remind us of our past struggles to get to where we are in this stage of history.
well done
My mother would be 112 in August. Her grandmother, Sarah Hester Vaughn was born in Kentucky in the mid 1800’s, then migrated with her family to Kansas after the Civil War.
I loved this story and the portrait you painted makes her more beautiful than the photo. I think she would be very pleased with the portrait. Thanks for sharing.
I love this painting. You really caught her inner focus.
What a wonderful blessing for you and your mother to have been able to connect with Lucie! Would she be a many times removed cousin to you?
Love the story, love the painting. You can never be too sure when it comes to eye color. My husband is one of five kids. All aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents….. EXCEPT one grandma has blue eyes. Granny was the only one with brown eyes. Out of the five kids and 12 cousins only one has brown eyes. Hubby’s older brother….ya just never know!!! The only way you could probably find out what color she had would be if an old love letter turned and a suitor mentions ” staring into your big beautiful ______ eyes!!!”…lol
Love all your stories too!!!
I am also a ‘Daughter’ and appreciate all the wonderful history and people who formed our nation with their beliefs and valor. Your story is beautiful and such a gift to have that article. I have found bits and pieces of my family but would love to have something like this with a picture! You should consider the DAR, you would add a lot to a chapter!
Love love love love love this post.
Your hands did miraculous things bringing this dear lady to life with your talent and oils. Remarkable.
This is just happy joyous stuff – thank you – with the world in such turmoil it is needed more than ever.
Love your paintings and your creative work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
The gene for blue eyes is recessive, and brown eye genes are dominant. If both parents have blue eyes, they can only have blue eyed children, but parents with brown eyes may have either. More info here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061023193617.htm
Yes, I remember that from school. 🙂 Genetics is so fascinating!