Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-08
The Artists Notification.

My attention was called few days s.r,a
| by DR.. Terrell of Lynchburg to am article
in your paper of September !, giving ul.,f
but inaccurate history of a full-lcuE't p.-.
trait painted by myself of the late Same.
Miller, which now adorns the walls Of he
female orphan asylum founded by L.m u
| Lynchburg, Va.
| The article in question contains s74p ID.
accuracies. After reading it | conc tltri .
write you a correct history of what cl:-
| to be in some respects one Of the C0S- IT,
| markable portraits in the world. I VIII 5s
as brief as possible, and ask that YOU pub
| lish my statements.
The years of 1867 and 1865 were spent hy
| me professionally in painting portraits for
different families in Lynchburg Wh..e
there, Mr.. Miller had me TO cal at three
different times to see him in regard 10 NV
painting a view of the mountain landscape
as seen from his front piazza. | was after
wards engaged in Tennessee and other
places, and lastly in Richmond, Va. In the
meantime Mr.. Miller had died. Il Was dur
ing my stay in Richmond that Gen. James
Mcdonald, then secretary of state. urged
me to attempt to recall to my mind the
features of Mr.. Miller, and portray them
On canvass. l hesitated for several months,
as it had been seven years Since had seen
MIR. Miller Many old faces We're in my
mind, and it was impossible for me TO de-
termine which of these was Mr. N.rrs
face. Finally told Gen. Mcdonald that I
would go to Lynchburg, to Mr.. Millers old
home, among his old friends and see what
could be done. After talking with many u
his friends, | finally determined 10 20 out
into the country to Dr. Terrell home. lie
was Mr.. MilIer's physician, and l neag
neighbor for many years.
q In the quiet of the country in sight Of his
khome, and with talks and criticisms from
the doctor, l began my task to bring back
his face to my memory and transfer il on
canvas. AT first | met with discourage
mentS from the doctor. as he viewed il rs
thing impossible. But undaunted III what
/ had determined to do. l set to work on
a1,eld face in my memory, not yet knowing
Ut to be the face of Dr. Miller. | worked
and studied hard for several days with no
encouragement, finally on the third or
fourth day the doctor left early to visit the
sick and did not return until near midnight
Left to myself, | studied and worked hard
all day and until near midnight TO bring
back lost face in memory. | had Just re-
tired when there was rap at my door. II
was the doctor, who wished to see what |
had been doing. Lighting the lamp and
placing my days work before nm, he
looked for moment, then exclaimed; You
have it; that.looks like Mr. Miller" felt
that l was right; that the old face | still
saw through memory was the face Of Mr..
Samuel Miller l could not describe ny
feelings on hearing this. | felt then tha,
the battle was won and that | should sue
coed in what I had undertaken. | wOrkei
for some days and brought out the face IN
its details until finally it was pronounced
by the doctor q perfect likeness; but 10 be
sure of it he said he would send for his old
overseer, telling him he wished TO see him
on business. The doctor asked him INTO
his office, where the picture was hung op-
posite him, and the moment he glanced up
ward his ewes rested on the picture. lie
exclaimed: "Lors, if there amt Old mars
ter" The doctor asked if the eyes,
nose. mouth, ETC., were like Mr.. Mil.ers.
He answered, Eyes: it is all like him |.
looks exactly like old marster." | after
wards exhibited it to his old friends n Inc
city of Lynchburg with not one adverse
criticism. inclose with this few OF tae
testimonials of those who were most MI
mately acquainted or associated with nm
in business matters. After finishing the
portrait got permission to open the grave
and look once more at the face OF Samuel
Miller as he lay in his coffin. His remains
were still preserved. So true was the Ike
ness of the portrait that never changed
line nor touched pencil to the face after
wards.
This is a true history of what l claim 10
be one of the most remarkable portraits II
the world. And the little orphan girls IL
all the years to come can walk into ina.
room and see their old benefactors iace
A face once lost in death, but brought DacA
through memory again to the living. fouE'
respectfully, f. l. FISHER, Artist,
Washiseton, D. T.