James Madison, Francis Scott Key and Andrew Jackson are just a few of the “special guests” attending the War of 1812 portrait exhibition in the House of Delegates.

From 6-8 p.m. March 29, nine others will also be making a special appearance—Dolly Madison, George and Ann Mason, Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Paine, John Paul Jones, John Adams, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Along with those who played direct and influential roles in the War of 1812, female veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars also will be honored and featured in photographs for Women’s History Month.

Katherine Burke, owner of the Annapolis Collection Gallery, is sponsoring the event.

All the portraits were painted by Annapolis resident Ann Munro Wood. Several of the portraits are on loan from various patrons of her art. Wood said she is honored to be featured in the House of Delegates.

“I’m a little self-conscious about having my art featured locally, but I’m really proud to have it displayed,” Wood said.

She said she is a “late bloomer” in the art world, and she didn’t begin to paint until her children were grown and moved out of the house.

Wood said she trained both in Baltimore and in Paris. Her inspiration comes from “everything around her,” she said.

Before she switched to portrait art, she was a courtroom artist. A few of the interesting trials she’s covered were the Reagan attempted assassination trial, a court martial of a surgeon who “worked a little passed his time,” and a nurse who poisoned her patients, Wood said.

“Those were great stories, and all I had to do was portray what was in front of me,” she said.

She claims to cater to “what the patron wants more so than what I want to paint.”

“I particularly pay close attention to my subjects,” she said. “As for those subjects who aren’t with us anymore, I read as much as I can about them. I believe it helps me attain a better understanding of how they would appreciate being portrayed.”

For the War of 1812 show, she said, “I’m just the laborer. I may be weathered, but I can do the work of a 40-year-old and I think that keeps Katherine happy.”

Burke, who opened the gallery for Marion E. Warren has “been in the art business for an enjoyable while.”

The Annapolis Collection Gallery “features six Annapolis master artists, one of them being Ann Munro Wood,” Burke said.

She said she put this event together “mainly for the 200-year anniversary of the War of 1812 and not secondly, but also to honor the women veterans who have served diligently in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.”

Burke said she is a proud supporter of veterans despite her view on the wars. She has arranged for an exhibit of photographs of women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to display at the evening reception.

“The Pentagon issued a statement that none of the troops coming back be honored at the moment," Burke said. "I thought that was rather odd, and I wanted to take this opportunity to honor the women veterans, and men who proudly served; but mainly women because it is Women’s History Month.”

“We’ve arranged for a wonderful classical guitarist to perform for the guests as they enjoy the two exhibitions," she said. "I’m looking forward to commemorating the War of 1812 and thanking the Women Veterans of 2012.”

The portraits featured will occupy the meeting room of the House of Delegates for the entire month of March.

RSVP to Katherine@AnnapolisCollection.com.