Tennessee State Bicentennial Portrait, The Pride of Tennessee, from NETSTATE.COM (original) (raw)

The Pride of Tennessee Adopted: June 1, 1990

Tennessee State Bicentennial Portrait: The Pride of Tennessee

The Pride of Tennessee is a 6' x 8' oil painting that hangs in the old Supreme Court Room in the Tennessee State Capitol. A sister painting hangs in the Murfreesboro Courthouse.

The painting features eleven Tennesseeans notable for their unique contributions to the state and to the nation and is intended to "preserve and promote the cultural heritage and historical accomplishments of all Tennesseans."

It was the idea of Thomas Vaughn, one of the authors of the 1996 Tennessee state song (#7), "The Pride of Tennessee," and former Tennessee artist in residence Michael Sloan, creator of the two official Tennessee state paintings. What Mr. Vaughn expressed in song, Mr. Sloan put down on canvas.

From left to right in the back row are:

• Cordell Hull
• Anne Dallas Dudley
• James K. Polk
• Andrew Jackson
• Andrew Johnson
• David (Davy) Crockett
• Sequoyah

In the front row:

• W.C. Handy
• Alvin C. York
• Jackson's horse
• Ida B. Wells-Barnett
• John Siever

The painting was named the Tennessee's official bicentennial portrait by proclamation of Governor Ned Ray McWherter on June 1, 1990.

"The Pride of Tennesse" portrait hangs in the State Capitol

Tennessee Law

"The Pride of Tennessee" was declared the State's official bicentennial portrait by a proclamation of the Governor and is, therefore, not listed in the Tennessee Code.