PORTRAITS OF DANIEL BOONE 171
PORTRAITS OF DANIEL BOONE
BY ROY T. KING
The portraits of Daniel Boone, who after leaving West
Virginia sometime between 1797 and 17991 spent the remaining years of his life in Missouri, are of historical as well as
artistic interest. Through the courtesy of owners, librarians,
and others interested in the subject, the State Historical
Society of Missouri has obtained photographs of many of
them, as well as historical data regarding them. The following is a presentation only of the historical details as given by
the owners themselves and by meager published accounts.
The portraits reproduced are believed to be representative,
but because of the large number located it has not been found
practicable to publish all of them. Paintings of Boone by
other artists which were reproduced by engravers are listed
as a matter of record, although only the engravings have been
located. In addition to the paintings discussed others no
doubt exist, but extensive correspondence so far has not
brought them to light.
Through his personal contact, and especially because of
the large number of portraits attributed to him, Chester Harding stands as the preeminent painter of Daniel Boone. Modestly claiming only "two or three copies" besides the original,
Harding is now credited with seven "copies." Evidence
presented in the following pages throws entirely new light
on the painting of Boone by Harding, Audubon, Sully, and
other representative artists.
It may now be said, in correction of former accounts, that
Boone's portrait was painted by Chester Harding in 1820,
and not in 1819.2 The former, restrained by a recent illness
and by his advanced age, was staying at the Callaway home,
aThe actual date is uncertain. Draper's notes, and biographies based
on them, indicate 1799, but American State Papers, Public Lands, Vol. II,
p. 736, indicates that he settled in Missouri "before the year 1798."
^Draper Mss., Interview With Nathan Boone, 1851, 6S, p. 277, (State
Historical Society of Wisconsin): "During the whole summer of 1820, he was
at Callaway's—there had his portrait taken by Mr. Harding; they all thought
