Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-20


Of Waterford, Ireland
Amidst the large collection Of old
portraits exhibited In the rooms of
the state historical library In the
capital at Helena is q very large
portrait of Gen. Thomas Francis
Meagher, the Irish patriot who was
once sentenced to death in Ire
land for treason, who was later
exiled and who served with dis
tinctf0n in the Union forces during
the Civil war in this country, who
was the first secretary of the ter
rit0ry of Montana and who as such
acted as governor of the territory
for a number of months during the
absence of Governor Edgerton.
This portrait, which, along with that
of the pioneer, James Fergus, formed
the nucleus of the present collection
Of portraits with which the walls and
pillars of the historical library are
now covered, was presented to the
state by the widow Of General Meagher
nearly 20 years after his death The
signature of the artist shows it to
have been painted by Thomas F. Gal
lagher.
On the pack of the immense frame
is a newspaper clipping taken from
some Helena publication of the eighties,
telling the history of the photograph
and of its presentation in 1885.
This story Is reproduced as follows:
Yesterday, Mr.. James w. Sanders,
secretary of the Society of Montana
Pioneers, received from New York,
from Mrs. Meagher, widow of Ex-
secretary Thomas Francis Meagher, a
handsome and valuable oil portrait of
the deceased general. 1t has been pre-
sented to the society by Mrs. Meagher
and pending its removal to the rooms
Mr.. Sanders has decided to keep it
at his residence, the society having
it. The picture Is a copy of the or
iginal one, painted by T. F. Gal
lagher of New York, which was pre-
sented by the artist to the city of
Waterford, Ireland, upon seeing an
item in the Irish World to the effect
that at meeting of the Thomas Fran
els Meagher branch of the Young Ire
land society Of the city Of Waterford,
Ireland, a discussion ensued as to the
keeping of the pictures Of some royal
in the town hall, and that
ing upon the members Of the town
corporation to dispose of them and use
the funds derived by their sale IN the
purchase of portraits Of Irish patriots.
Upon the occasion of the presen-
tation of the pictures to the generals
native town there was an immense
demonstration at which fully 10000
Nationalist thronged the city. The
town was gay with bunting and the
in the harbor decorated with
flags and streamerS. 1t was proud
day for Waterford.
The portrait is a life-size painting
of IN tho rlrsncc ,f q brio
adler general of the United States
army. General Meagher appears In a
sitting posture bearing an unsheathed
sword In his right hand, while his
eft arm leans upon a center table,
he wrought coverlet of which bears
| chain encircled heart, emblematic of
Lreland's bondage. Beside him on the
able Is a book, typical of his literary
accomplishments, and mis- hat. The
after is adorned by a Sprig Of box
wood, such as borne by the Irish
nortalized in the famous poem Of
Joseph Bradford, entitled The Sprig
# Green In the right background is
! prospectus representing a gray dawn
,limpse of Waterford harbor with
9onk tower in the distance. On the
eft background the American flag
troops behind his chair and comes
nut over his left arm. The chair is
lld-fashioned. the coloring and up
lolstering showing the generals taste
S described by DR.. Meagher.
ION the breast are three medals, |
hose of the Second army corps-a red |
the Kearney badge, and |
hat of Meagher,s zouaves, company |
/, seth Veteran corps, the whole form |
az q striking picture-without excep- !
Ion the trueSt and finest likeness In |
xistence. There is no overlooking of /
be effect. The familiar expression Is
etained in all its distinctiveness, the
rtist's genius being stamped on every
ne.
~The gift Is a graceful act upon the
art of Mrs. Meagher, and viii endear
err to the hearts Of the pioneers. 1t
q most valuable acquisition to the
,ciety's archives and constitutes, with
ne oil portrait OF Hon. James Fergus,
ne nucleus Of a portrait gallery of
Re noted men identified with the his
)ry of Montana"