10.

Harpsichord 

George Washington ordered this harpsichord fro London for his step-granddaughter Nelly Custis. I really love that George took in his step-granddaughter and raised her like she were his own. Nelly was frequently called upon to entertain guests in the parlor. Nelly and Wash were the children of Jacky and Eleanor Calvert. Four of their seven children survived through infancy. Once Jacky died, the two youngest were sent to live with George and Martha because Eleanor was struggling to take care of them all on her own. Martha gladly received her grandchildren and George surely happily received them as well. Although George and Martha were never able to have children of their own, they were privileged to raise four children. When they were first married, the couple cared for Patsy and Jack, the two surviving children from Martha and Daniel Custis' marriage. The two children made it to young adulthood at best before passing away. Martha and George were well acquainted with grief. I can't imagine how hard that must have been, but at least they had each other. Martha survived longer than most everyone in her immediate family, including George. Life should be cherished and I am sure that Martha did her best to do so.

9.

John Adams Portrait, by Mather Brown 1788

John Adams is one of the Founding Fathers that I do not know a lot about. However, Mather Brown gives me a better idea through this portrait. The colors in this painting really stood out to me. I think it might be because of the deep red color of the drapery and chair. I also think his face is really fascinating, He almost seems to be perfectly capturing the idea of ambivalence. Humble yet so proud his accomplishments. I am not sure how he pulls off such contradicting emotions, but something of his character can be taken from him . Whether the personality portrayed isn't accurate, we still have a beautiful likeness of him. The photo used to hang in the parlor room where friends would gather. I like the signs of refinement in the portrait. The books, the paper, and how he is sitting all indicate his level of gentility and refinement. Mather Brown studied under Benjamin West. It so cool that most of the early American painter are related by teachers, mentors, and subjects. John Adams' bright hair and forehead seem to really draw the attention the light in his eyes. I like this portrait because there is a certain natural rawness to it. Mather Brown didn't try to cover up or fix any imperfections.

8. Thomas Jefferson's House

Monticello has always fascinated me and I definitely want to go there some day soon. This picture reveals a lot about Thomas Jefferson's life and interests. Just like the chapters we have been reading about houses and gardens, the way a house was decorated and furnished was very important. It becomes a work of art or literature. The possessions that people are most proud of are usually out in the open. Rooms for gathering and conversing were very popular and even essential at this time period. The fine portraits and sculptures in this room show how Jefferson  was a genteel man that appreciated fine art. The small fireplace denotes an upper-class status and close attention is paid to the warmth of the room. Draftiness was also a problem in these Colonial style houses so they often were cold, but a room like this was probably very comfortable. The crown molding, wood floors, and large windows are meticulously placed. It is very gorgeous and it became an icon for American homes and mansions. The last thing I really notice and enjoy about this room is the lighting. I am pretty sure that all the light in this room is natural and coming from the windows. Most homes at this time were still adjusting window sizes to allow adequate light to come through without allowing the cold air in. Light was also an indicator of wealth and gentility. 

7.

Martha Washington's Rings

The ring on top with the blue background is a mourning ring with a lock of the lost one's hair. Yes, it does have a lock of hair in the middle! As I was reading a book on Martha's life, it mentioned that when her two infant children died during her first marriage, she ordered rings similar to this one. This one is actually believed to have been from her nephew George Augustine Washington who died in 1793. These rings were a common way for the wealthy to mourn the loss of a dear one. Surely death was a frequent visitor during the Colonial times. I often think that life seemed a lot shorter and things were not taken for granted so easily. Life is so temporary and I have really been trying to live in each moment and enjoy what comes in to my life. It reminds me of President Hinckley's words, "Life is to be enjoyed not just endured." This advice seems so simple , but in practice it is not easily done.The second ring is one of Martha's that she probably wore during the time of George's presidency. It is a perfect example of the beautiful yet simple accessories Martha wore. The Mount Vernon eMuseum beautifully explains this ring as portraying, "the restrained elegance of the ring bespoke a republican virtue that distinguished her character from the perceived ostentation of European royalty." Martha did not try to dress and act like someone in the British courts of the time. She was classy and influential at the same time.

6.

Instead of talking about more clothing, I found this recently and I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to write about it and share it with you.

These are George Washington's dentures! I was so surprised to find out these still survive. I found them on the Mount Vernon website. These are so gross yet amazing at the same time! The description given said that contrary to popular belief the dentures were not made out of wood. The materials used were human teeth, cow teeth, elephant ivory, brass wires and steel springs. It sounds so uncomfortable. George supposedly took good care of his teeth but this didn't prevent them from falling out. By the time he was 57, and the first president of the US, he had no real teeth left. He used this full set of dentures and they often had to be sent in for repairs. His dentist lived in New York so I can imagine that they would take a while to be repaired and then sent back to George. Since George was very conscious of style and his appearance, I can't imagine how uncomfortable and frustrating it would have been to be continually losing teeth. It just reminds me of how grateful we are now. If I were to lose a tooth they could fill it in very easily and no one would even notice, it would feel natural. I am grateful that I would never have to wear dentures like that.

5.

George Washington's Suit

The Mount Vernon collections are all online. It is amazing to look through all of the memorabilia and possessions that remain from George and Martha's life. There are a few more suits that remain from George's life but this one was particularly interesting to me. The information listed under the Suit description reads, "This suit may be the one made of Hartford-manufactured wool worn by George Washington to his first inauguration as President of the United States on April 30, 1789."  It is amazing to think that this may be the very suit that President Washington wore when he became president. Imagine President Obama or President Bush wearing this brown suit! It would be quite ridiculous. The standards of dress have drastically changed throughout the centuries. The description on the website also mentioned that this type of suit "would be considered dressy daytime apparel." This suit was made in Connecticut and he proudly wore it as a symbol of hope for American manufacturers. I love looking at this and imagining George walking around, writing letters, and talking to Martha. It really brings George to life and put's the whole situation into context.

4.

Waistcoat of George Washington

First of all, it is so great that we have some of the original clothing that George and Martha wore. This vest is made of silk, linen, wood, and iron. According to the description given on Mount Vernon's website, George took a "keen interest" in fashion. This was considered the height of fashion in the 1780's and George was probably proudly wearing it. I like the finely embroidered flowers on the vest. I never would have thought that flowers would have been acceptable for a man to wear. If a man wore a silk vest with flowers on it, people would probably think he was really weird. But, this shows how different the culture was and how important dressing nicely was. It is fun to imagine one of the paintings of George Washington coming to life wearing this waistcoat, talking to Martha and getting ready to take a carriage ride. Seeing this waistcoat brings George to life a little more than a painting, This waistcoat is thought to be made in either France or England. The Washington's ordered a lot of things from overseas. Martha started to wear clothes that were made only in America in order to support the local business and her husband's political beliefs.

3.

Bust of George Washington by Jean-Antoine Houdon 

I have never studied sculpture very in-depth until this semester. One of my classes is Greek and Roman Art History and, along with architecture and painting, sculpture is one of the main things we have been studying. I am so impressed and in awe of sculpture. The contours in the marble, the way the sculptor can make it look so real. The beauty of the shadows and light on the figures face is absolutely amazing. Houdon was a French sculptor who sculpted many prominent figures throughout the 17-1800's. It brings George Washington more to life by making him 3-D. The pose that Houdon chose to place him in is not formal and impersonal. It seems that George has been thinking long and hard about something and that has weighed on his mind. Despite this, his head his high, looking forward and prepared to meet whatever may come his way. The hair, skin, and face look so real. Houdon had a unique way of carving the eyes to make them look as if they were filled with light. He could even distinguish between dark and light eyes based on how he carved them. This bust of George Washington is one of my favorite because, as far as what I've read, it does a good job of capturing his personality.

2.

George and Martha's Bed 

This bed was in Mount Vernon throughout George and Martha's marriage. This bed remains at Mount Vernon and visitors can go see it. I went to Mount Vernon about 3 1/2 years ago and I did not know very much about George Washington at the time. I wish I could go back now. Anyways, I chose this picture for a couple reasons. One, it shows the simple, yet elegant style of Martha. Since her first marriage when she was 19, she became wealthy, but she never let that wealth over power her frugality and practicality. Second, on December 14, 1799 George passed away in this very bed. Martha followed the custom of the day to stay in another room after her husband's death. The bed, as far as I know, hasn't been slept in since then. This beds show a very personal and close side of George and Martha's marriage. Since I have been reading a lot about Martha, I find it fascinating that she wanted their relationship to be kept private. Yet, there are things that have been left behind that show what a great love these two had for each other. George worked hard to prepare Mount Vernon for him and his new bride and this bed was a lovely edition to this house.

1.

The Family of George Washington by Edward Savage 


This portrait called. "The Family of George Washington" was painted by Edward Savage from 1789-1796. Many things in this portrait can give us a glimpse into the family life of George Washington. The black man standing in the back right is said to be one of the family’s slaves, William Lee. This portrait was replicated many times, and he was often left out, probably because of the racism and prejudices of the time period. I am reading many books and researching Martha’s life in-depth and there is a lot of evidence that they treated their servants very well. I like this painting because it shows how important education was. There is a map spread on the table and a globe close by. I can imagine George and Martha teaching their grandchildren not to be narrow-minded and ignorant. Martha’s headdress makes her the same height as Washington although he was 15 inches taller than her.  This supports the claim that Martha was definitely George’s equal in all ways. The two complemented each other and were very fond of each other. Edward Savage was not one of the most skilled or well-known painters of this time, but his portrayal of the Washington family has a certain raw and natural beauty to it. I like how the awkwardness of some of the body proportions is made up by the beauty of the fabric on Martha’s gown, and other intricate details.