The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-07
" WASHINGTON.
ELDER.
SHEPPARD.

During the late Civil War art, which at
best was only in d nascent state in the
south, flourished but little. The best shown
picture that was produced at that time
was the Burial Of Latane, executed by
Mr. William Washington, a descendant
Of Lawrence Washington.
The death Of Captain Latane occurred
near Hanover c. H, in the summer OF
1852, when Mcclellan and Lee We're con-
tending 70: mastery along the Chicka-
hominy Latane fell at the head of his
Essex company III q charge that routed
Northern regiment Of cavalry, and his
lifeiesS body was carried to the home of
Mrs William Spencer Brockenbrough
All the men of the family were in the
war, SO Mrs .. and the ladies OF the
prepared the body OF the young soldier
Tor burial, and the faithful negro on the
pace dug the grave near the house. AS
the old rector of the parish lived miles
away, and was, moreover, Within the enc
my's lines, it was impossible to command
his services; SO when the little process
sion started to the grave Mrs. 3. carried
her prayer book, intending to read the
Episcopal burial service herself over the
heroic dead. The commonly received yer
sion of the matter is tat she did read
it. and the picture was painted on this
supposition. I am very sorry to say, how
ever that of late years, at the venerable
age of ninetS-four. Mrs. B. has contra
dicted this beautiful and romantic tale,
stating that she had been just on the
point of reading the service herself when
she was interrupted by the arrival of a
Methodist clergyman, who had heard of
Latane's death and came to offer his
services at the funeral. I must confess
II; re G ri
had much the same effect on me as the
modern attempts to do away with the
charming history Of Pocahontas saving
Captain Smiths life.
The group around Latane's grave con-
sisted of Mrs. peterborough, three
ladies OF the Newton family, and the two
Misses Dabney and two little girls But
when Washington painted the picture.
he selected his model amongst the most
beautiful and admired women of Rich
rnond. Mrs. Leigh Page was the central
figure. personatng Mrs. B. with prayer
book in hand. The other principal figures
in the foreground are Misses Matte Wal
ler Hettie Cary, Jennie Pegram, and
Matte Paul. One of the children in the
picture is a faithful reproduction of the
lovely Miss Imogen Warwick in her
childhood.
Mr.. Washington also painted the pic
ture in Murphy's Hotel representing
Jackson's entrance into Winchester and
several other pictures on war subjects.
ali of them incidents in the Gauley ca M
paign in (now) West Virginia in 1861
He also left some small works on genre
subjects, domestic in character Mr.
Washington was native of Fauquier
of Culpeper county, Va, and at the
time of his death was Instructor in draw
ing at the Virginia Military Institute.
believe. Early in life his career was
patronized by AIR. w. w Corcoran, OF
Washington city and one OF his paint
ings, The Wedding Interrupted, hung
in Mr.. Corcoran,s private gallery. and
was afterwards transferred to his public
one. The incident was ta-1en from French
historyin the time of the Huguenot perso-.
cution. Mr.. Washington took course