The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-04-06
Theodosia Burr-Historic Portrait.

During the senatorial term of Aaron
Bulr-1791 and 1797-he was one day
driving along lonely country road in vi
ster county, New York, when his horse
cast Il shoe, and he stopped at black
smith shop to have it replaced. While
waiting the completion Of the operation,
he happened to glance at the door OF the
rude building, and saw there a truthful
and vigorous drawing of his vehicle and
team done in charcoal, which must have
been executed in a very few minutes.
He inquired for the artist, and q halt
grown boy, dressed in coarse garments,
stepped forward and said II did it, sir"
Burr entered into conversation with the
lad, and soon ascertaned that though
wholly uneducated, he was unusually
bright and intelligent; that he was born
and reared in the neighbOrhood, and had
hired himself to the blacksmith for six
months.
Writing q few lines on a slip of paper
Burr handed it to him, and remarked :
My boy, you are too smart a fellow to
stay here all your life. If you ever want
TO change your employment and see
something Of the world, put a clean shirt
in your pocket, 90 to New York and
come straight to that address His in
Vulnerable schemes, and the cares and
duties OF political life soon drove the in
cident from the Senator's mind and he
was surprised one morning some months
later, while sitting at breakfast at his res
idencc at Richmond Hill, when servant
entered and delivered him a small bundle
which had been brought by boy who
10 No al
ACE he found within q clumsily made
clean shirt
Thinking there must be y mistake, he
ordered the boy shown up, and in y mo-
mcnt there entered the blacksmith's APP
prentice, with the Slip of paper given him
as n guide and introduction, Burr gave
him hearty welcome, took him into his
family directed his education, procured
him instruction in the primary principles
of drawing and coloring, and finally as
sisted him to 90 to Europe, where he
spent five wears. When misfortune and
nisdeeds had driven tho. patron a friend
less, penniless exile across the sea, the
protege was exhibiting his pictures at the
Louvre, and gaining compliments and u
gold medal from Napoleon.
lie did all he could to aid his .benefact-
on when they met in Paris, but though
Nanderlyn had won fame, money was al
most as scarce with him IS withgBurr
lie came back to America, painted the
Landing of Columbus" now in the TO-
tunda of the Capitol at Washington; the
portrait of Jackson in the City Hall, New
York, and several other well-known
works, and died not long since near the
spot where he had received his first en-
enlargement to study the art his achieve
ments have adorned.
Previous to his tour abroad Vanderlyn
painted the portraits of Burr and his
daughter, which have been made familiar
to all through the engravings attached to
the lives of the former, written by Mat
thew l.. Davis and James Parton. This
portrait of Theodosia, next to the idolizeC
original, Burr priced more than all else
the world contained. 1t hung in his
drawing-room at Richmond Hill, and
whenever Theodosia's birthday came
round after her marriage to Governor
Aston and removal to South Carolina
it was always brought out for the admira
ton and toasts of the assembled guests
When he went to Europe he carried i
with him, and whether visiting the houses
of distinguished people in England, o.
hiding away in Partisan garnet, thu
sweet face looking out from the duml
canvas, was ever near to brighten and t.
bless. He brought it back to New York
and it was at his bedside when he died
From the death chamber the portrait wa
transferred to the keeping OF Miss Theo
dosia Provost, daughter of John 3. Pre-
vost, Burr's stepson. There it remained
for some time, and was then carried t.
South America by another member of tn,
family.
Returning from thence it found tempo
rary Judgment in the household of Rev
DIR. Breckenridge of Pleasant Hill, Mis-
souri,, whose wife was also a daughter 0
John B. Provost. A few weeks since
passed into the possession OF Mrs. Luc
breckenridge of Alton, Illinois, and
now in the studio of Mr.. j. r. Stuart, col
ner of Fifth and Olive streets. st. Louis
The historic picture is on canvas, rathe
under the ordinary size for half lengths
and still has the same wooden frame
painted black and vanished, which
probably wore seventy years ago.
1t shows evidence of age and travel
but the accurate drawing and careful col
orng for which Vanderlyn was noted, ar
vet plainly perceptible, and the soft brow
hair, hazel eyes, clear cut nose and lips
cheeks blushing with the palest tint G
the rose, and exquisitely moulded nee
and bust, recall in lifelike reality, the fac
and form of her over whose unknow
grave the ocean rolls. and whose story
one of the saddest and the noblest record
ed in American annals.