Portrait of a Lady

Paul Jackson painted the portrait of Missouri First Lady Pat Wilson at the Missouri Governor’s Mansion. The painting, containing hidden objects with special meaning, was unveiled in January of 2001.

Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson became Missouri’s 52nd governor at 1:10 am Oct. 18, 2000, to fill the unexpired term of Gov. Mel Carnahan, who was killed in a plane crash. He held the office until Bob Holden was sworn in Jan. 8, 2001. Mrs. Wilson took a leave of absence from her job as a school counselor at Fairview Elementary School in Columbia to fulfill her responsibilities as first lady.

Below is an animation of  the painting in progress.

• The names of the Wilson children (Erin and Drew).
• A picture of a bee, representing Mrs. Wilson’s mother, whose name is “Bee.”
• A four-leaf clover, representing Mrs. Wilson’s father,
  who was very Irish and gave her her maiden name, “O’Brien.”
• Last but never least, the number “23,” which is her husband’s lucky number.
• Click the image to view the finished portrait.