The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-08-06
POSED FOR A QUEEN.
Victoria Sat for the Face, While Mis-,
Sully Supplied the Figure.

Victoria Sat for the Face, While Mia,
suliy Supplied the Figure.
About two years ago handsome old
lady, Miss Blanche Sully Of Phlladel-
phia visited Washington. She was
the guest of her sister, the late Mrs.
John III. Wheeler, 90 Grant place, that
city. In 1887 this lady was beautiful
girl, and had an experience no other
American girl ever enjoyed. Her faith
er, Thomas Sully, Americas greatest
portrait painter, had been engaged by
the Society of st. George and st. An
drew of Philadelphia to paint the por-
Blanche Sully, his daughter, accompa-
MED her father on this interesting mis-
sion. Both were quartered at Wind
sor Castle, and Queen Victoria con-
scented to pose for the portrait until the
face was finished After that the
royal robes were placed on the should,
ers of Blanche Sully, and she stood TO!
hours in the position as indicated IL,
the steel engraving now in the posses.
sion Of Col. Sully Wheeler of Wash.
ington, the grandson of Thomas Sull.g.
This steel engraving was the originG!
executed in London under the SUPERB
vision Of Sully himself and was owncl
by that artist until he gave il to h'.s
daughter, Mrs. Ellen Sully Wheeler,
for many years an honored resident OF
the nations capital. Mrs. Wheeler hid
two sons, who now live there, Col. Sui
ly Wheeler and Maj. Woodbury. Wheel
er. These gentlemen recall many in
cidents connected with the painting of
this portrait, especially in connection
with the queens jubilee.
Miss Blanche Sully was then a
charming girl, and the head of her,
painted by her father, gives evidence
of rare beauty and refinement. She
found the coronation robes of the
young queen a burden, weighing forty
pounds, and probably became very
tired of her gorgeous borrowed plum
age, but when the task was done and
her fathers portrait was hung in the
Royal Academy, a similar portrait was
ordered for Buckingham Palace, and
Queen Victoria gave Blanche Sully
splendid diamond signet ring and an
trouble she had taken. Sully received
$40 900 for the portrait he painted for
the Society of St George and st. An
drew. and was muniicently paid for
those he painted for his English pa
irons. After his return to this coun-
try he spent much time with his
daughter, Mrs. Ellen Sully Wheeler
and during one of his visits painted
charming group, which represents Mrs.
Wheeler with her two babies, now stall
wart citizens of the District.
When the war began Sully Wheeler
was in the United States navy and gal
lantly served his country throughout
that memorable struggle. The other
Joined the Confederates and fought as
bravely for a lost cause. They were
again reunited after peace resumed her
pTOplIlOus sway.
Gen. Alfred Sully, the son of the an
fist. was brigadier general in the
Federal army and was frequently quar-
tered at Washington. He was a grad
uate of West Point and participant
in the Indian wars, the Mexican war.
and distinguished himself in several
engagements in the late war; rising
from the rank of captain to brigadier-
general. Col. Sully Wheeler and Maj.
Wheeler own many splen-
did specimens Of their distinguished
art. There is no finer
collection of portraits in any one fam
lily connection In the District of Co.
lumbia. The flesh tints in Sully's por-
traits retain to wonderful degree
their original coloring. AS the years
go by his fame increases, and he is
easily first among the American ar
lists.