Virginia Del Castillo (Mrs. Mary Johnston)

b. 16 Aug 1865 in Camaguey (Puerto Principe), Cuba
d. 29 May 1951 in San Francisco, CA

Parents: Gen. Francisco Del Castillo and Marietta Aldrich

While she was born in Cuba, she spent part of her youth in Westmoreland, New Hampshire where her father purchased the "Priest Pratt House".  After her husband passed away, she moved to San Francisco to be closer to her sons who were all in California by that time.  While her style was more impressionist, she also painted portraits of notable people around Washington D.C.

The family lore is that she met her husband at an art show where her painting of a Giribaldian Soldier was on exhibit. Reuben LeGrand Johnston was one of the judges at the show and asked to meet the artist (her) - from which they eventually fell in love and got married.  This painting is still in the family.

Source:
Information provided by the artist's great-granddaughter Jeanette Lewis