The paintings have been on display at the gallery since November 2007 and have garnered “a wealth of positive reaction,” said Jason Smith, network administrator who will supervise the online auction for the gallery.

“These are two phenomenal examples of the true genius of Andy Thomas,” Smith said. “He always spends an immense amount of time studying and gaining perspective before he ever lays anything to canvas. He’s a student of history and he strives for historical accuracy.”

Smith said the paintings also have attracted a few “very strong, very partisan” responses.

Dina Thomas said she got that reaction when she was with the paintings during an exhibit in Great Falls, Mont. She said she thinks she heard “every political joke” during the show, most laden with barbs aimed at the other party.

From Republican supporters, she said, came frequent questions about whether Monica Lewinski was under the poker table. And several Democrats said they believed that President George Bush “was trying to figure out who Abraham Lincoln was,” she said.

Thomas said the research he put into the paintings had caused him to moderate his views of the presidents.

“They’re all to be admired,” he said.

Though some of the prints have been purchased by local political groups and raffled off as fund-raisers, Dina said she would be surprised if the paintings’ buyers are in politics, even though the auction comes in the midst of the political season.

“I think they’ll be bought by art collectors, who are politically-minded,” she said.

Local sales

Reproductions of the works along with other art by Andy Thomas are available at Cherry’s Custom Framing, 310 Howard St., Carthage.