Robert E. Lee
Print Collection is now available on our shopping page!
OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY
Available in stickers, phone cases, buttons and mugs!
In 1948 the Lee County Bank in Fort Myers decided to have in its lobby a painting which would pay proper tribute to the great American for whom Lee County was named in 1887, and which would exemplify the romance and Southern hospitality of Lee County. Artist Miss Cora Burghard was living in Fort Myers at the time, and was selected by Lee County Bank to paint the life-size portrait of Lee that would be proudly displayed in the bank lobby.
Miss. Burghard, was born in Macon, GA in 1908, graduated from Macon High School and studied art at Mason Art School, Wesleyan College, University of Miami, University of Florida and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She taught art at the Fort Lauderdale Conservatory of Music and Art, and English in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Naples schools. The portrait was completed in 1950. R.A. Henderson, Jr., Chairman of the Board, unveiled the handsome oil painting at 2 pm on Wednesday, April 26th, 1950 which is Confederate Memorial Day.
The painting was dedicated to Lee County. Miss Burghard was also commissioned to paint Thomas Alva Edison for the bank.
The Tichnor Post Card Company in Boston, MA produced a post card using the image attributing it to Miss Burchard, which is the image used in this collection. Proceeds benefit the Lee County Namesake monument fight. Check out the collection on our shopping page by clicking on the button below:
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