When Johnson returned from Europe late in 1855 and moved in with his family in Washington, D.C., he began receiving portrait commissions. Like the commissioned drawings done earlier, Johnson generally used charcoal (named in some records as black chalk) with touches of white and created a strong chiaroscuro for his sitters. In his later professional years as a painter of oil few portraits of children are recorded. His art commanded high prices; perhaps families were then reluctant to include their children in sittings for portrait drawings. —PH
Mary Yates Hatch Willard (1856–1926). Daughter of Alfrederick Smith Hatch and Theodosia Ruggles Hatch.
Alfrederick Smith Hatch (1829–1904). Prominent wall street broker, president of the New York Stock Exchange, 1883–1884, and enthusiastic art collector. Resided at 49 Park Avenue with his wife Theodosia Ruggles (1829–1908). Other family members including Theodosia’s mother, Alfrederick’s father, and their children are present in their group portrait by Johnson [Metropolitan Museum of Art website, accessed February 27, 2022].
- Portrait pose
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