Portrait of Esther Wallace Jackson, created by Connecticut artist, Kern Bruce, will be on display at the Simsbury Public Library through 2025. The large scale oil painting is representational art, depicting the artist’s imagination of Esther Wallace Jackson’s physical likeness. Bruce relied upon Jackson’s documented life story and photographs of three of her living great-granddaughters to create the striking and vivid oil painting, commissioned by the Alex Breanne Corporation.
The subject of the painting, Esther Wallace Jackson, was born between 1759 and 1764 in Simsbury or Windsor to London and Irana Wallace. She married a former enslaved man, Peter Jackson, in 1780. They raised their family of ten children in Simsbury. A bronze plaque installed in Simsbury Cemetery, next to the graves of Esther and Peter Jackson, lists the names of all 12 family members who, over the span of more than 100 years, bravely served in our nation’s defining conflicts.
The painting and plaque were unveiled on June 19, 2025 in a ceremony hosted by the Alex Breanne Corporation in collaboration with the Simsbury Historical Society and Town of Simsbury. The portrait of Esther Wallace Jackson is the first in a series of six portraits depicting African Americans commissioned by the Alex Breanne Corporation for the William Downey Memorial Collection, a traveling exhibition that will be displayed at sites throughout Connecticut in 2025-2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
About The Alex Breanne Corporation
Founded by John and Erica Mills, the Alex Breanne Corporation is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on promoting social clarity and informed context regarding the African-American experience through non-profit equity advocacy. The organization researches, interrogates, and presents lesser known stories representing the life experience of the American enslaved, presented from an African American perspective. Its mission is to use research and broader context to identify and address the many reverberating effects of chattel slavery. For more information, visit alexbreanne.org.
About The Simsbury Historical Society (SHS)
Established in 1911, Simsbury Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Simsbury, Connecticut, a picturesque New England town founded in 1670. SHS owns and maintains twelve historic and modern buildings and structures on nearly three acres of grounds with period gardens and native plantings in the Simsbury Center Historic District, making it unique among local historical societies in size and scope. It offers community activities and programs for all ages throughout the year. Hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Public tours of about 45 minutes duration are offered Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Group tours and research assistance are available by appointment. For more information, visit simsburyhistory.org.