Description:Andrew Johnson, life size, 3/4 portrait, with Johnson seated at green covered table. The bill "Homestead Bill 1860" is among the bills on the table.
History:Tradition is that it is the first painting of Andrew Johnson. During the Civil War, the painting was kept by a friend, Mrs. Sarah Cutler, who reportedly wrapped it in newspapers for protection and used it as a firescreen to protect it and keep the soldiers from mutilating it. After the War, it was sent to President Andrew Johnson in Washington for restoration. This is information given to us from the grand-son, Andrew Johnson Patterson, and the great-granddaughter, Margaret Johnson Patterson Bartlett.
Notes: At the time this was painted in 1860, Andrew Johnson would have been a U. S. Senator from Tennessee. The Smithsonian has this listed in their inventory: Control # AP 56940384.
