the yellow rose of Texas

This will be the only time you will ever hear me say this, but…this painting was inspired by Texas. Being a bit of a arty-farty-weirdo, Texas and I have a hate-love-hate relationship. But, its history has some interesting characters. This is a painting of the Texas heroine Emily Morgan, often called “The Yellow Rose of Texas”. After hearing about her story and determination, I thought she might make a cool painting.

So here’s your herstory lesson for the day: Emily was an indentured servant of Captain James Morgan. Emily was captured by Santa Anna’s troupes 1836 (during Texas’ battle for independence from Mexico). The story goes, that during a key battle Mexico’s general Santa Anna had forgotten to post guards or any defense of his camp. The Texas army came in and won the battle in less than an hour, it was a huge turning point in the war.

The reason behind Santa Anna’s strange, distracted behavior? Ms. Emily Morgan. No one knows for sure how the cunning and charming Emily distracted Santa Anna from paying attention to his troupes, some say she drugged his food, others say she used her womanly wiles to enchant the general. Either way, it was her who helped turn the War for Independence in Texas’ direction.

Unfortunately, during her capture by the Mexican Army, Emily lost her papers that declared her “free”. So even after helping to win the war, upon Emily’s return she had to fight for years to win back her freedom from slavery. Total and complete BS, but she eventually declared free again, and was able to return to her family in New York. That is determination for you.

She’s pretty much a bad-ass. If I had learned about her in Texas State History in school, I might not have fallen asleep so often!