Louise Schafer Cone (American, 1889-1968). Eight Portraits of a Members of the Robert E. Lee Family - all are oil on canvas, ca. early 20th century. A rare piece of history, these eight portraits represent four generations of the Lee family painted by artist Louis Schaefer Cone, an award winning portraitist of prominent figures in the American South, at the request of the Lee family, according to Inza Lee Fort, a descendant of Robert E. Lee. The sitters include, from top to bottom: Richard Lee II (1647-1715) and his wife, Laetitia Corbin Lee (1657-1706); Mr. Thomas Lee (1690-1750) and his wife, Hannah Ludwell Lee (1707-1740); the parents of General Robert E. Lee, General Henry Lee (1756-1818) who was a Revolutionary War officer and also known as "Light Horse Harry", and his wife Anna Hill Carter Lee (1773-1829); and finally, General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) and his wife, Mary Ann Randolph Custis (1807-1873). Size of Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Lee paintings: Size: 4.5" L x 3.5" W (11.4 cm x 8.9 cm) Size of frames: 7" L x 6.125" W (17.8 cm x 15.6 cm)

Size of other six paintings: 4.375" L x 3.25" W (11.1 cm x 8.3 cm); Size of frames: 6.875" L x 6.125" W (17.5 cm x 15.6 cm)

On the back of each portrait is a handwritten biographical statement about each sitter. The ensemble of Lee family portraits is also accompanied by three works on paper. First is a print featuring Robert E. Lee's geneological chart, a list of important Civil War events involving Robert E. Lee, and a map and various illustrated vignettes marking the highlights of Robert E. Lee's life by Karl Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina, copyright 1949. Second is a Pictorial Chart and Topographic Map of Stratford Plantations Westmoreland County Virginia (Stratford Hall being the birthplace of Robert E. Lee) also by Karl Smith - by this time of Greensboro North Carolina, 1955. Finally, a copy of the Lee family tree (copyright 1886 by Mrs. H.A. Marshall).

Louise Schaefer Cone was born and spent most of her life in Birmingham, Alabama. She studied with Edna Smith, George Elmer Browne, and Roderick MacKenzie. In addition, she studied in New York with Wayman Adams, Frank Vincent Dumond, and George Bridgman. Ms. Cone was a member of the New York Art League, the Southern States Art League, as well as the Birmingham Art Club. Although proficient in portraiture, still lifes, and landscapes, she is best known for her portraits of prominent figures of the American South, many of which hang in museums and government buildings. During her lifetime, she received several awards for her oils and pastel compositions.

These portraits once belonged to Inza Lee Fort's. Ms. Lee Fort's description of the family's relationship to the artist Louise Schafer Cone is as follows, "My aunt, Louise Short Lee, was a friend and sometimes model for some of Louise Cone's paintings. After marrying into the Lee family, Aunt Louise asked Louise Cone to paint several of the Lee family members. Portraits that my aunt and uncle had were passed to my mother after they died. These portraits were then passed to me and my sister after my mother died."

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Inza Lee Fort collection, Arkansas, USA - Ms. Fort is formerly of Alabama, USA and a descendant of General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870).

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#163168

All paintings are set in matching black and gold painted wooden frames behind glass and wired for suspension. All have handwritten brief biographies of the respected sitter on the gallery paper on the verso. The paintings have not been examined outside the frames. Portraits appear to have areas of craquelure and minor fading but are otherwise very nice. Frames show expected wear with scuffs and chips. Some stains and minor perforations to gallery paper on versos, but biographical statements are legible. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lee II have come a bit loose from the frames, but these could be remedied. The accompanying works on paper show expected age wear with slight toning, creases, and small tears to peripheries.