American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Oil on canvas, 29 x 24 in. (sight), housed in decorative gilt frame, which appears to be original to the painting, 42 x 37 in. overall. Plaque at bottom identifies subject as "Col. Robt. L. McCook." Signed and dated at right, "E.F. Andrews, 1881." (A black light shows retouching to the facial area; verso, the canvas shows no visible signs of imperfections or repairs; oxidation, wear and surface appear consistent with age overall.) 

Robert Latimer McCook (1827-1862) was a Union officer from Ohio and member of the famed "Family of Fighting McCooks." Prior to the Civil War, McCook studied law and practiced in Steubenville, Columbus, and Cincinnati, OH, until 1861, when he organized the 9th Ohio volunteers and 
became colonel of the regiment. He participated in the West Virginia campaign under McClellan, took part in the 
action at Carnifex Ferry, WV, August 1861, and was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers 21 March 1862. At the battle of Mill Springs, KY, where he distinguished himself and was wounded, McCook commanded the 3d brigade under General George H. Thomas. He accompanied the brigade across 
Tennessee from Stevenson to Decherd, and, although ill, he refused to desert his post, and directed the movements of his 
troops from an ambulance. On 4 August, while his escorts were reconnoitering, he was shot by Confederate guerrillas as he 
lay helpless in his ambulance. He died from the wound, near Decherd, TN, 6 August 1862.

Eliphalet Frazer Andrews was an American painter known primarily as a portraitist. He established an art instruction curriculum at the behest of William Wilson Corcoran at his Corcoran School of Art, and served as its director from 1877–1902. Andrews received numerous commissions to create both original portraits and copies of images of deceased famous Americans, which are displayed by institutions at the federal, state, and local levels.