In 1857 Johnson drew the “Five Sisters”—women who were friends or relatives of each other. Beginning in the 1860s Johnson began to make “conversation groups” in oil, as had been the fashion in England in the 1700s. These scenes were of families relaxed in interiors and engaged in talking with each other, such as the Hatches, Browns, Blatchfords, and Burdens. In a few instances Johnson did charcoal drawings of the whole scene or individual members, but it is not clear if such drawings were done before or after their oil counterparts. —PH
MacGibeny, 2022: Although this group portrait previously was titled Five Sisters, the women are not all sisters. According to Scott Nielsen, a Johnson descendent by marriage, they are (left to right): Johnson's nieces Mary Elizabeth Newton and Martha Newton (holding newspaper), Sarah Fairchild Dean, Mary Elizabeth Brown Rice, and Johnson's sister Sarah Johnson Newton (with hand under chin), each of whom was portrayed separately by Johnson. The faces in this drawing are less individualized than they are in the separate portraits; Sarah Fairchild Dean can be identified most securely.
1997: Mary O'Connor – She looks out and has a presence, whereas others are adjunct. Pastel on gessoed canvas. Mixed media? Note strokes under lips; prominent gold ring. Hands of other figures not formed. Mary: perhaps holds sheet music.
Mary Elizabeth Newton Hayes (1835 or 1836–1910). Niece of Johnson; daughter of Sarah Osgood Johnson (Johnson’s sister) and William Henry Newton; sister of William Henry, John, James, and Martha Newton. Married Colonel Hiram Hayes (m. 1860).
Martha Newton (1841–?). Niece of Johnson; daughter of Sarah Osgood Johnson, Johnson’s sister, and William Henry Newton. Youngest sister of siblings Mary Elizabeth, William Henry, John, and James. Married Hamilton Murray Peyton (m. 1864).
Sarah Osgood Johnson Newton (1831–?). Sister of Johnson; wife of William Henry Newton. Mother of Martha, Mary Elizabeth, William Henry, John, and James.
Mary Elizabeth Brown Rice (1834–1863). Wife of Orrin Wheeler Rice (1829–1859; m. 1852), also portrayed by Johnson.
Sarah Fairchild Dean Conover (1827–1912). Member of a prominent Madison Family. Sister of Civil War hero and governor Lucius Fairchild; married Eliab Dean (m. 1848). Divorced and later married professor Obadiah Conover (m. 1883).
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