First painting of an African American to hang in Missouri governor's mansion

For the first time in history, apparently, a portrait of an African American will hang in the Missouri governor's mansion, Gov. Eric Greitens announced.

The portrait is of George Washington Carver, a botanist and an inventor.

“We hang this portrait today because George Washington Carver is one of us," Greitens said in an announcement Tuesday during Black History Month. "He is a Missourian who came from very little, went very far and left our country better for his time on Earth."

Carver (1864-1943) was born in Diamond, Mo., and specialized in the many uses of the peanut. He invented hundreds of products from plastics to medicinal oils. He headed the agricultural department at the Tuskegee Institute.

"He began life as a slave and he ended it a hero, someone praised throughout the world, someone honored by presidents and kings for his work feeding people and fixing farms," Greitens said. "It is an honor to recognize his tremendous example.”

The portrait was painted by a Missouri artist, Joanna Reid.

"I want people to be enamored with the gentle intelligence in his expression," Reid said in a statement. "I hope they will find it memorable and want to know more about this multi-talented, genuine, brilliant scientist and personality. People should know about him, learn from him and be inspired by him."

Reid said her favorite saying attributed to Carver is: "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all of these."

The portrait will be hung in the dining room of the mansion. The public may view the painting beginning Thursday during normal tour hours. The mansion, located at 100 Madison St. in Jefferson City, is open from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The announcement comes as the governor is under investigation for felony invasion of privacy.

This story was originally published February 28, 2018 at 2:28 PM with the headline "First painting of an African American to hang in Missouri governor's mansion."