History:The artist's signature is present in in the lower left corner. There is a mend at the top right and a vertical scratch in the upper left corner. The painting's general condition was fair when examined in 1980.
Notes:James D. Porter (1828-1912) was born in Paris, TN and graduated from the University of Nashville at age 18. As a Whig, he served as a member of the Baltimore Convention which nominated Bell and Everett in 1860. Porter helped organize the provincial army of TN at the beginning of the Civil War. He served as chief of staff for General B. F Cheatham. After the war, he returned to Paris and practiced law until 1870, when he was elected Circuit Judge. He served as governor of Tn from 1875 to 1879. He also served as minister to Chili, was prominent in the railroad industry and edited Volume 8 of the Confederate Record in 1899. Tennessee Blue Book