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By BettyV, 9 May, 2025

Description

I've recently acquired this pair of presidential portraits signed by T. G. McCarthy 1897. One features Abraham Lincoln, the other, George Washington. They're beautifully rendered.

I received them from a man who lived in Colorado for many years, who received them from his mother who bought them at a yard sale in Colorado Springs around the 1970s.

From what I've been able to research about T. G. McCarthy, he was quite an influential man in the development of Pueblo Colorado. He owned a paint, glass and wallpaper store, painted signs for businesses, opened a mortuary, was the mayor of Pueblo, then sheriff, among many other things. Born in 1856 and died 1940.

They're fairly large, maybe about 18x24 if not a bit larger. In ok shape, the guy I got them from was a history teacher and kept them in the classroom and kids will be kids. They need cleaned and maybe some repairs.

Pair of 1897 Presidential Portraits by T.G. McCarthy

Item Overview:

Artist: T.G. McCarthy
Signed & Dated: Both paintings clearly marked “T.G. McCarthy 1897” or “’97”
Subjects:
- George Washington (1st U.S. President)
- Abraham Lincoln (16th U.S. President)
Medium: Oil or tempera on canvas, matte finish
Dimensions: Approx. 18" x 24" each (plus frame)
Condition: Fair to good; moderate aging, minor surface wear, likely from prolonged public display

Artist Background:

T.G. McCarthy (1856–1940) was a known civic and business figure in Pueblo, Colorado, where he operated a paint, glass, and wallpaper business, served as mayor and sheriff, and contributed artistically with sign painting and memorial art. While not widely documented as a formal fine artist, his work holds regional historic interest and represents folk portraiture from the American West at the turn of the century.

Artistic Features & Craftsmanship:

Stylistically, the works lean toward folk realism, with distinctive character rendering and a patriotic undertone—ideal for schools or civic spaces.
Frames appear original or period-appropriate, with mid-late 19th century wood and corner hardware (patents dated 1895).
The Lincoln portrait’s expression and the Washington portrait’s composure reflect idealized American iconography from the post-Reconstruction era.

📌 Historical & Collectible Significance:

These are likely privately commissioned works or done for civic display (e.g., courthouse, school, Masonic lodge). Given McCarthy’s known ties to local governance and business, the paintings may have once adorned a public building or institution in Colorado.

Though T.G. McCarthy is not a nationally recognized artist, his portraits represent:

Late 19th-century American patriotism
A rare document of Colorado’s civic-artistic heritage
Presidential portraiture from a folk/vernacular tradition

🏷 Estimated Value (as of 2025):

Context

Estimated Value (USD, per painting)

Local Private Sale / Consignment

$400 – $600 each

Regional Auction (Western art, Colorado history)

$800 – $1,200 each

Sold as a Pair (Historical Interest)

$1,500 – $2,000 combined

Note: Value could increase further if provenance ties them to a known public building or historical society in Colorado.

🔍 Recommendation:

Preserve as a pair – Their joint thematic and historical context is more valuable together.
Light conservation suggested – Surface cleaning and frame tightening only; do not over-restore.
Consider professional documentation through:
- A Colorado historical society
- A folk art or Western art auction house (e.g., Cowan’s, Hindman, or Leslie Hindman in Denver)
Display value is high for collectors of U.S. presidential memorabilia, 19th-century folk art, or Colorado history.

Antique 1897 T. G. McCarthy Presidential Portraits