Finis Bates' "Portraits"

[BettyO]

I found this regarding the portraits (particularly the one of Mary Surratt.) This is from a description regarding the Donald Dow sale of Lincoln artifacts which was earlier this year.

"The four 40" x 30" oil on canvas portraits in the Dow Collection (framed to an overall size of 37" x 47") were commissioned by Finis Bates. At least three of them, and perhaps all four, were used as part of the original decoration for these traveling John Wilkes Booth carnival exhibits... A photograph of one of the exhibition entrances, taken about 1910, appears on page 144 of The Day Lincoln was Shot by Richard Bak (published 1998 by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas). Visible in the photograph are the portraits of Abraham Lincoln, David Herold, and John Surratt. Also visible is a portrait of Mrs. Mary Surratt (painting now lost).

...The portrait of John Wilkes Booth carries a copyright date of February 16, 1898. The artist who painted the portrait is unknown but may have had the last name of "Curtis", according to Don Dow's records...The other three paintings were copyrighted by Finis Bates in 1903 and were probably produced by the same artist who painted the Booth portrait. The images of Abraham Lincoln and David Herold were clearly used to decorate the entrance of the traveling John Wilkes Booth carnival shows. The use to which Bates put the portrait of John Surratt in his Zouave uniform is not known... Three of the paintings were used as illustrations in the Bates book of 1907...."

Here is the website:

http://historical.ha.com/itm/political/-...ion-071515

   

[Pamela]

Maybe the artist's name is credited in his book as it should be. Thanks, Betty.

[L Verge]

A follow-up from Scott at Georgetown:

Laurie,


I took another look at the photo of the painting of Mary Surratt in Box 9 Folder 27 of the E.H. Swaim papers.


In the bottom left-hand corner, there is a very small note that says "J.A. Holder 1903." I had to use a magnifying glass to read the small writing.


Unfortunately, we still do not know for certain who painted the portrait.


The larger mark on the photo says "Copyright by F.L. Bates 1903."


I hope that this information helps.


Best regards,

[brtmchl]

(09-22-2015 04:49 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I found this regarding the portraits (particularly the one of Mary Surratt.) This is from a description regarding the Donald Dow sale of Lincoln artifacts which was earlier this year.

"The four 40" x 30" oil on canvas portraits in the Dow Collection (framed to an overall size of 37" x 47") were commissioned by Finis Bates. At least three of them, and perhaps all four, were used as part of the original decoration for these traveling John Wilkes Booth carnival exhibits... A photograph of one of the exhibition entrances, taken about 1910, appears on page 144 of The Day Lincoln was Shot by Richard Bak (published 1998 by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas). Visible in the photograph are the portraits of Abraham Lincoln, David Herold, and John Surratt. Also visible is a portrait of Mrs. Mary Surratt (painting now lost).

...The portrait of John Wilkes Booth carries a copyright date of February 16, 1898. The artist who painted the portrait is unknown but may have had the last name of "Curtis", according to Don Dow's records...The other three paintings were copyrighted by Finis Bates in 1903 and were probably produced by the same artist who painted the Booth portrait. The images of Abraham Lincoln and David Herold were clearly used to decorate the entrance of the traveling John Wilkes Booth carnival shows. The use to which Bates put the portrait of John Surratt in his Zouave uniform is not known... Three of the paintings were used as illustrations in the Bates book of 1907...."

Here is the website:

http://historical.ha.com/itm/political/-...ion-071515

The portrait of Booth looks more like an older John St. Helen.

[L Verge]

(09-22-2015 04:24 PM)brtmchl Wrote:  

(09-22-2015 04:49 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I found this regarding the portraits (particularly the one of Mary Surratt.) This is from a description regarding the Donald Dow sale of Lincoln artifacts which was earlier this year.

"The four 40" x 30" oil on canvas portraits in the Dow Collection (framed to an overall size of 37" x 47") were commissioned by Finis Bates. At least three of them, and perhaps all four, were used as part of the original decoration for these traveling John Wilkes Booth carnival exhibits... A photograph of one of the exhibition entrances, taken about 1910, appears on page 144 of The Day Lincoln was Shot by Richard Bak (published 1998 by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas). Visible in the photograph are the portraits of Abraham Lincoln, David Herold, and John Surratt. Also visible is a portrait of Mrs. Mary Surratt (painting now lost).

...The portrait of John Wilkes Booth carries a copyright date of February 16, 1898. The artist who painted the portrait is unknown but may have had the last name of "Curtis", according to Don Dow's records...The other three paintings were copyrighted by Finis Bates in 1903 and were probably produced by the same artist who painted the Booth portrait. The images of Abraham Lincoln and David Herold were clearly used to decorate the entrance of the traveling John Wilkes Booth carnival shows. The use to which Bates put the portrait of John Surratt in his Zouave uniform is not known... Three of the paintings were used as illustrations in the Bates book of 1907...."

Here is the website:

http://historical.ha.com/itm/political/-...ion-071515

The portrait of Booth looks more like an older John St. Helen.

Which is very likely what Bates intended...

[maharba]

I've seen this Finis Bates Tennessee lawyer and his connection with 'the mummy' of Booth (imposter?) several times. Each time I wonder: was he a Phineas Bates like Phineas Barnum? Or like Jefferson Davis whose middle name was I believe Finis (as in final) was that instead the name of Finis Bates? I also notice that the death certificate dates of death and birth for Finis Bates don't agree with other listings for him. There appear to be several related? Finis Bates earlier and later.

[L Verge]

Finis Langdon Bates was the full name of actress Kathy Bates's grandfather. The Tennessee lawyer, whose claims about Booth escaping have managed to frustrate many a good historian, is buried in Memphis. Born in Mississippi in 1848, he lived until 1923. You can see his tombstone in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis on FindaGrave.

[maharba]

Yes, and I notice they keep making minor changes to Bates listing at FindaGrave. It somewhat takes me back when folks whose forte had been historical figures or genealogical focus, will themselves have a blurred or absent genealogy in available records. Finis Bates death certificate lists his parents as John Welsh Bates and a Miss Bobbin. But in fact his parents were Henderson Wesley Bates and Eliza Bourland. I would imagine throughout his life folks would pronounce or spell his first name variously --Feneee or Phineas or Finis (rhymes with Venice). I notice far enough back Bates has a Lincoln ancestor.

[L Verge]

Never knew the Lincoln connection to the Bates family - interesting. Everyone that I know of pronounces his first name as Fin - is (short "i" and "is" as in "hiss"), including Kathy Bates's niece, whom I spoke with many long years ago.