HOLY FAMILY PAINTING by MERCY ANN LOCKRIDGE: A 6000 Mile Journey from New York to California and Back

The Holy Family by Mercy Ann Lockridge, reproduction of a painting by Raphael.

When I was growing up, a beautiful, large, ornately framed painting hung in the living room of my grandmother’s house in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  It depicted Saints Mary and Elizabeth with the baby Jesus, and a genuflecting Saint John holding a cross of reeds. Jesus, assisted by Saint Elizabeth, appears to be blessing Saint John. In the shadows stands Saint Joseph. We always called it The Holy Family. It was painted by my great-great-grandmother Mercy Ann Lockridge in about 1865, a copy of a famous painting known as the Madonna of Divine Love by the Renaissance artist Raphael in 1516-18.  The original Madonna of Divine Love hangs in the National Museum of Capodimonte in Naples. Italy. The painting that my grandmother made is a copy of a copy of Raphael's original. [See the letter below for the story of how that copy made its way to upstate New York.]

At the time that Mercy Ann painted The Holy Family she was living in Cattaraugus County in Western New York. The painting followed her as she and her family moved west--to Wisconsin, Kansas and finally Chicago. It  then went to my grandmother in Kenosha. A family treasure, the painting has since been passed down to my father, traveling from Kenosha to Minneapolis and San Francisco, and then to me in Los Angeles. It has now made its final journey, back to Cattaraugus County, New York, where it has been donated to the Perrysburg Historical Museum, in the town of  Perrysburg. .

The Holy Family, displayed in the Perrysburg Historical Museum, Perrysburg, NY.

I am pleased to have The Holy Family “back home” where it can be seen and enjoyed in the community and by visitors to the museum. I thank the village of Perrysburg for including it in the town museum and town historian Steve Stockwell for coordinating the exhibit. More about the museum can be found on the Perrysburg History Museum Facebook page.

The story of the Lockridge family is an integral part of the town history and is the subject of a book written by my father, Lester Scheaffer, Lutie and Mercy Ann. A copy of the book is a part of the museum collection and is being posted a chapter at a time on the museum Facebook page.

My father’s book includes a letter written to my grandmother about the origin of the painting that Mercy Ann used as a source for The Holy Family. 

Letter from Maria Parker Chapman to Dorothy L. Gibson, possibly between 1900 and 1902, in response to Dorothy’s inquiry about her grandmother Lockridge’s painting called “The Holy Family”.

My dear Dorothy,

This is the story in detail, and as all good children like the “Once upon a time,” so I will begin mine so.

Once upon a time there lived in the village of Versailles, Cattaraugus Co., State of New York, Hiram Chapman with Maria his wife. They had no children of their own, but had an adopted son, and in their very hospitable home they had gathered about them those that had not homes of their own. [Note that Versailles--pronounced as if it rhymes with "sales"--is a hamlet located in the northeast corner of Perrysburg.]

Mr. Chapman, before his marriage had sailed the Lakes as Captain and often in his quiet home life was called by that title. The incident that I am about to relate occurred forty years ago. – One stormy evening in December when the snow lay deep upon the ground, there came into the little village store a stranger dressed in the garb of a sailor and whose language was that of a Scotchman. – His face was weather-beaten, his large blue eye was tender, and when he made the appeal to the store-keeper—“Is there anyone in this village that ever sailed the waters?” all were interested.

On the corner, one of three stores in Versailles in the 1880s.

He was directed to Capt. Chapman on the hill.—Later in the evening a rap on the kitchen door of the home of Mr. Chapman announced the coming of the wayfarer.

He told his story simply, he was born in Glasgow Scotland and when he was a boy of twelve years, tired of school of restraint, he ran away and hid in the hold of a whaler that was about to put to sea for a five-year voyage. So well did he secrete himself that not till the vessel was far out to sea was he discovered.—

Then when this voyage was over he went again and again till at this time they entered the harbor of New York to remain for the winter.—He gave his name as Edward Gallagher from New York. He made his way across the state to Buffalo thinking when spring came he might get on a boat on the Lakes,--but alas! Ned found bad companions and in a short time he was penniless, then came the tramp of 30 miles across the country to some place he did not know when his wanderings were so aimless. But the little village under the hill close beside the roaring Cattaraugus, ended his wanderings.—Though a man of twenty-four years his education had been sadly neglected. They gave him a home with their accustomed generosity and went to the village school, Mrs. C.—giving him lessons in writing in the evening.—His frank genial nature soon make him a favorite with the village young people and he was always a welcome guest at their merry makings, attended a singing school, and the little wooden church, with the good old-fashioned minister often found in him an attentive listener.

When spring came the smell of the salt water wooed him away and he went to come back the ensuing autumn, for several winters his home was in Versailles, then a longer cruise took him to the blue waters of the Mediterranean, when the second winter came, he with a sailor friend Jim he called him came with the picture of the “Holy Family” secured in a hempen bag, while on the coast of Italy some sailors made a raid on a church and some valuable pictures were taken. Ned bought this and, for the friendship he held Mrs. Chapman in, he with a great deal of trouble in securing it, presented it to her for the unvarying kindness to him she had ever shown him.

Years went by no tidings came from Ned—but at last a letter came from Jim. His shipmate had died in the hospital in New Orleans. The picture is in the old home yet. Though other faces look upon the beauty, the other faces look upon newer and more glorious beauties. Celebrated artists have pronounced it the work of some pupil from one of the old Masters.—We do not know.—Your grandmother while in Fredonia obtained the loan of it for 6 months,--and hers is a beautiful copy.

This is a story dear I am glad to write it.—It all seems so vivid to me as I was of your age now when this all happened.—I love to think of these dear old times and your dear Grandmother knew this Ned Gallagher.—We are all usually well and hope you are, my love to all your friends.—Keep in touch with your Heavenly Father do not get away from Him.

Lovingly M.C.P. Chapman

Detail of The Holy Family painting by Mercy Ann Lockridge..