• Awarded Best in Social Studies
  • Welcome

Search

Teacups in the Garden

Historical Seamstress & Homeschooler

Becoming the Gilded Age with Impressionist Art 
Becoming History Presentations - Logic

Becoming the Gilded Age with Impressionist Art 

August 2, 2009

Presenting my son as a Texan Cowboy who became one of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, my daughter as Anne of Green Gables, and my dual roles: one as a French dancer who had stepped out of one of Renoir’s paintings and as Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani.

Steakhouse Dinner 1890s San Francisco Style

While living in San Antonio, my plan for this Becoming History presentation included a special treat: take the kids to The Old San Francisco Steakhouse.

Evoking the spirit of California’s Gilded Age, the excellent food amidst velvet furnishings while an 1890s bargal swings high above the bar to ring the bell is a unique San Antonio icon.

Apparently its history began with a Texas Ranger of the 1890s.

Since we now live in Northern Virginia, we brought the steakhouse to us! 

Presenting the Old Northern Virginia Steakhouse, serving grilled sirloin steak, baked potatoes, salad with ranch dressing, and sourdough bread. 

cowboy steakhouse dinner

Dinner conversation in character

Often asked about how we stay in character, here’s a scenario that occured while enjoying our steakhouse dinner.

Texas Cowboy Discussion

I suggested to the cowboy that the delicious steak we were eating came from one of the cattle he had recently driven in. 

The cowboy clarified that the meat arrived from a meat packing plant in Chicago.  

I asked which Texas ranch he was from. 

 Hmmmm, he wasn’t sure.

Which city? Brownsville. 

Wow, all the way down there?  He must be from the King Ranch,

“What’s that?” he asked. 

I told him it was one of the largest ranches in Texas in the 19th century.

(As the largest ranch in Texas today, it occupies nearly the entire southern part of Texas, between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Whenever we drove to South Padre Island, we drove through the ranch, which takes an hour or two.) 

Yep, he decided that’s who he worked for, the King Ranch.  

French Dancer stepping out of a Renoir discussion

btw, who are you, he asked me. 

I replied it all depended on the moment, as sometimes I am a French dancer who stepped out of a painting and other times I am a Hawaiian queen. 

We had the most fun with my French character and I wish I could remember everything. 

My family was asking lots of questions, trying to figure out which painting I had stepped out of. 

I kept everything lighthearted and fun, staying in character. 

The looks on their faces were absolutely priceless as they were in amazed disbelief the entire time.

I do remember my son asking me what I thought of Pointillism, but my character had no idea what that was. 

That clued my son that my persona was before the time of Pointillism.  

My daughter successfully guessed which painting I had stepped out of. My son might be the most artistic, but she’s got the art history down best.

What do I do, my son asked.

“I dance!  I love to dance.  Do you dance, monsieur?” 

He replied that it depends.  He liked to square dance. 

“Square dance?” I asked, as I wrinkled my nose. “Oh, that’s that country dancing they do in America, is it not?” 

Yes! 

“Oh we have much more refined dancing in Paree.” 

(They were all looking at me with incredulous smiles on their faces!)  

Musical Entertainments of the Gilded Age

After a delicious dinner, we went to the piano to sing some familiar cowboy tunes, to get in the mood for my son’s presentation.

Cowboy Power Point Presentation

All year my son anticipated portraying a Texan cowboy.

Since cattle drives reached their peak after 1875, and lasted until the invention of the barbed wire and automobiles, the Gilded Era is the best fit for this presentation.

Designing his own power point presentation, he used it as a visual aid to share the history of the cowboys.

cowboys history

After this we gathered around the piano again to sing Strawberry Roan then in honor of our new home state of Virginia, we also sang Shenandoah. 

Rough Rider Interpretation

Then my son transitioned into his first person interpretation as a Texas cowboy who was recruited by Theodore Roosevelt to train as a Rough Rider in San Antonio. 

After this we gathered around the piano to sing goodbye to cattle drives with I’m Going to Leave Old Texas and Red River Valley.

Then my son played a famous march from the era on his fife, Stars and Stripes Forever.

Fife playing

Then the cowboy played Git Along Little Dogie on the piano.

Anne of Green Gables recites The Lady of Shallot

My daughter’s turn was next as Anne of Green Gables. After sharing the story of Anne Shirley, she recited The Lady of Shallot.

Anne of Green Gables recitation Lady of Shallot

Then she played a period hymn on the piano: Take My Life and Let it Be, most likely prompted by Murilla.

Renoir Painting Comes to Life

For my first interpretation, I portrayed a dancer from a Renoir painting: Bal du moulin de la Galette housed in the Musee d’Orsay.

Through pantomime I stepped out of the painting, acted surprised to see everyone.

Showing them a book of Renoir’s painting, I explained that I had stepped out of that lovely scene, (while using my best French accent and vocabulary).

My son took the book to look for me.  “You must be right here!” he gleefully said. 

“On no Monsieur, I have stepped out of the painting!”

Everyone was laughing…exactly the mood I wanted for my playful presentation.

Renoir and Limoges, France

Renoir was born in Limoges, France and grew up in Paris, developing his skills at drawing.

Eventually he was hired to paint the beautiful ceramics of Limoges, France.”

I held a Limoge out for them to see in my hand. 

These ceramics take their name from the town and these are authentic pieces.  

This Limoge, shaped like a purse, opens up.  (They were eating out of my hand. This was fun!)  

Limoge pink purse that opens and closes

Renoir and Napoleon III

Incidentally in his early years, Renoir trained calvary horses for Napoleon III.

Seeking to win the favor of the people, Napoleon III threw his support behind the unconventionally new art technique rising in Paris, Impressionism.

To the Impressionist art style, Renoir became a leader.

(Incredulously everyone shook their heads in disbelief that I worked in Napoleon, albeit a relative) into the presentation. But even Napoleon III had a reputation to keep, of his famous uncle.)

Remaining in character with a French accent, I explained Renoir’s impressionistic techniques in the painting I had stepped out from.

Finally, remaining in character with my accent, I transitioned my discussion of Renoir to the next part of the presentation: Before I pop back into the painting, let’s go to the museum to enjoy other Impressionist works of art.

While I prepared to leave, the kids’ were incredulously asked: Mom, where did you learn all that French? 

Laughing I led everyone into our art museum. 

Impressionist Art Museum Presentations

Here are my kids’ projects from an Impressionist art book my kids studied from, that had several art activities. (read all about that book here and the art activities here)

Showing their Impressionist projects where they learned to use short, choppy, unblended strokes of color, like Monet, they each detailed a bit of background for the techniques used.

Monet impressionist art projects

Here they showcased their paintings of a shimmering sky, like Monet.

Monet impressionist art projects

In this set they painted reflections like Monet.

Monet impressionist art projects

That’s all the art my non-artistic daughter had time to do in the midst of completing her high school studies for the year.

Because my younger artistic son finished his homeschool year weeks ago, he did four extra projects that were more complicated than the previous three.

This is my son’s study of a haystack in the snow as influenced by the sun, replicating another Monet piece.

Monet impressionist art projects

My son recreated Monet’s water lilies in a 3D interpretation, which I set against leftover blue fabric from my Queen Liliuokalani costume.

my son's Monet water lilies 3D art project

Renoir taught my son how to proportionally draw a face.

Renoir self-portrait art project

Meanwhile Cezanne taught my son how to paint a still life. I think in this one he learned how to use color, instead of size, to show perspective, a post-impressionist technique.

Cezanne still life impressionist art project

Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii

 Next I became Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii,which was special to me because I used to live in Hawaii. I based my entire costume around her famous portrait. 

Queen Liliuokalani history of Hawaii

 While reading Queen Liliuokalani’s autobiography, I discovered some common bonds to portray. 

Interestingly, she wrote about some of the very things I have written about on my blog!  

Queen Liliuokalani, Mount Vernon, Lafayette

For example she beautifully describes her visit to Alexandria located on the Potomac River near Washington DC, a town not far from my new home.

Boarding a boat at the nearby dock, she rode down the river to Mount Vernon, then docks to tour the famous home of our first president.

While traveling that beautiful spring morning in May, the beautifully aromatic flowers bloomed in abundance.

…as the edifices which mark the sacred spot came in sight, the American flag was lowered, the steamer’s bell tolled, the gentlemen removed their hats, and the air of the Star-Spangled Banner was rendered by impressive effect. -Queen Liliuokalani’s autobiography

She goes on to describe how she was emotionally moved by this event and the tour of the mansion, Mount Vernon where: the rooms occupied by General Washington, General Lafayette, and Martha Washington were opened to us; and we were permitted to enter, and further, to pause in the lady’s bedroom to listen to the story of her constancy to the memory of her husband, whose grave she watched, as she sat daily at her window, from the day of his internment to that of her own death. -Queen Liliuokalani’s autobiography

(My family couldn’t believe I worked in Lafayette!)

After a horseback ride on one of the islands and seeing some lovers bidding adieu, she wrote the beautiful song Aloha Oe, which I played on the piano.

Does anyone know how Hawaii became an American possession?

For years Americans set up businesses and missionary societies on the islands, becoming one with the people socially.

There was much intermarriage, in fact the queen married one of these American businessmen. 

Over time, some of the Americans forced the king to write a new constitution giving them power and making the king their puppet.

Eventually the kings died out and Queen Liliuokalani assumed the monarchy.

Two years later, in 1893, she tried to write a new constitution giving more power to the monarch and returning the franchise (right to vote) to the Hawaiians. 

The American businessmen overthrew her kingdom, with the help of American marines. 

President Cleveland did not support this but was outvoted by the Congress, so Hawaii became a US territory. 

Luau on the Deck

After we changed our attire, we began the luau!

Luau on the deck

Most everything was made with combinations of Hawaiian ingredients like coconut, banana, pineapple, papaya, macadamia nut.  

We had pina coladas (non-alcoholic), crab dip, zucchini boats filled with crab and shrimp filling, shrimp cocktail, Hawaiian banana bread, and fruit salad. 

Everyone helped themselves buffet-style to Hawaiian food…

Luau tablescape

…then sat at the table on the deck surrounded by tiki torches and red hibiscus flowers.

Luau on the deck

Third Year Favorite Classical Homeschool Studies

During the luau we talked about favorite/interesting things learned in history in our third year of classical education.

They said art! 

I repeated…”Historical!”

Because it’s his history, my son said he most enjoyed learning about the Alamo, because that’s his history.

Finding Napoleon interesting, my daughter couldn’t believe that he appeared every week in one of her government or literature or history readings.

My son said he didn’t appear in his Dialectic literature selections, but we said he certainly did in the Rhetoric literature.

My daughter gave several examples of Napoleon and even Lafayette found in Classical literature.  

We were going to play limbo but never got around to that. 

 Instead we settled down to a Hawaiian movie with chocolate macadamia nut coffee from Hawaii and coconut layer cake.  

After dinner we crashed in the family room to enjoy an old Elvis Presley movie, Blue Hawaii, which features some of the Hawaiian concepts discussed in our history presentation.

For more photos check my Flickr set.

Pot Pourri

Tags:

  • Anne of Green Gables
  • ,
  • cowboy music
  • ,
  • cowboys
  • ,
  • Gilded Age
  • ,
  • Hawaii
  • ,
  • Impressionistic Art
  • ,
  • Lafayette
  • ,
  • Napoleon

Post navigation

Rhetoric literature success despite vision issues
Painting Lafayette walls, creamy kitchen, and my kids on PBS

Recent Posts

  • Driving up to a Volcano to Peek into Crater Lake
  • Following the Lewis and Clark Trail from Virginia to Oregon
  • Flying over Cascade Volcanoes of the Pacific Northwest
  • Sewing 18th Century Pudding Cap for our Youngest Sweetheart
  • Drummers Call 2025 at Colonial Williamsburg

Archives

Categories

  • 1781 Lafayette Regimental Sewing
  • 18th Century Costume Vignettes
  • 18th Century Sewing Classes
  • 18th Century Sewing Inspiration
  • 18th Century Sewing Journal
  • A Sewing Journal – 1450 to 1600 Renaissance
  • A Sewing Journal – 1600s
  • A Sewing Journal – 1800 to 1825
  • A Sewing Journal – 1830s
  • A Sewing Journal – 1860s
  • A Sewing Journal – 1890 to 1910
  • A Sewing Journal – 1912
  • A Sewing Journal – 1920s
  • A Sewing Journal – 1940s
  • A Sewing Journal – 1950s
  • A Sewing Journal – 1960s
  • A Sewing Journal – Cross Stitch
  • A Sewing Journal – Vintage Flair Couture
  • Atelier Inspirations for Historical Sewing
  • Atelier Research – Couture meets 18th Century
  • Atelier Studio Design
  • Becoming Colonial Williamsburg
  • Becoming History in College
  • Becoming History Presentations
  • Becoming History Presentations – Grammar
  • Becoming History Presentations – Logic
  • Becoming History Presentations – Rhetoric
  • Becoming History with Cooking
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Brickyard
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Capitol
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Charlton's Coffeehouse
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Christmastide
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Civil War
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Drummer's Call
  • Colonial Williamsburg – First Oval Project
  • Colonial Williamsburg – George Wythe House
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Independence Day
  • Colonial Williamsburg – James Geddy Foundry
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Milliner
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Prelude to Victory
  • Colonial Williamsburg – President's Day
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Religious Freedom
  • Colonial Williamsburg – Under the Redcoat
  • Colonial Williamsburg Restoration
  • Colonial Williamsburg Time Travels
  • Dancing
  • En Plein Air
  • French Country House – Texas Hill Country Style
  • French Country House – Virginia Lafayette Style
  • French Country Townhouse – Virginia Lafayette Style
  • Historic Inns and B&Bs
  • Historical Interviews
  • Historical Reenactments
  • Homeschool Graduation – 18th Century Style
  • Homeschool Remedies for Learning Delays
  • Homeschooling Classically
  • Homeschooling Grammar Stage – 18th Century Style
  • Homeschooling Logic Stage – 18th Century Style
  • Homeschooling Rhetoric Stage – 18th Century Style
  • Jeffersonian Classical Architecture
  • Lafayette – Our Grand Tour of Discovery
  • Lafayette 1824-1825 Grand Tour 200th events
  • Napoleon – Conquering the Man
  • Quilting
  • Taste of Texas
  • Time Traveling with Movies
  • Traditions – Christmas
  • Traditions – Independence Day
  • Traditions – Memorial Day
  • Traditions – New Years Eve
  • Uncategorized
  • Virginia 1607-1699 Jamestown
  • Virginia 1660-1776 Mercantilism
  • Virginia 1730s-1740s Great Awakening
  • Virginia 1765-1776 Rumblings to Revolution
  • Virginia 1776 Independence
  • Virginia 1781 Campaign – American Revolution
  • Virginia Finds Gold – Eureka
  • Virginia Manor – Abingdon
  • Virginia Manor – Arlington
  • Virginia Manor – Belvoir
  • Virginia Manor – Berkely
  • Virginia Manor – Leesylvania
  • Virginia Manor – Monticello
  • Virginia Manor – Mount Vernon
  • Virginia Manor – Rosewell
  • Virginia Manor – Shirley
  • Virginia's Alexandria
  • Virginia's Chincoteague Ponies
  • Virginia's Fairfax Proprietary
  • Virginia's Virginia Beach
  • Virginia's Wine Country
  • Virginian – George Mason
  • Virginian – George Washington
  • Virginian – Jame Monroe
  • Virginian – James Madison
  • Virginian – John Marshall
  • Virginian – John Paul Jones
  • Virginian – Patrick Henry
  • Virginian – Robert 'King' Carter
  • Virginian – Thomas Jefferson
  • Virginian Author Earl Hamner – The Waltons
  • Virginian Time Travels
  • Visiting California
  • Visiting Colorado
  • Visiting Connecticut
  • Visiting Delaware
  • Visiting Florida
  • Visiting Maryland
  • Visiting Massachusetts
  • Visiting New Mexico
  • Visiting New York
  • Visiting North Carolina
  • Visiting Pennsylvania
  • Visiting Texas
  • Visiting Vermont
  • Visiting Washington DC
  • Vivaldi's Seasons
  • Vivaldi's Seasons: Autumn
  • Vivaldi's Seasons: Summer
  • Vivaldi's Seasons: Winter
  • Weddings
  • Wee Life
  • Welcome
  • Wellness
  • Young Earth

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

about us

  • Company Profile
  • CSR Initiative
  • Read Articles
  • Media Kit

connect

  • Employee Portal
  • Customer Portal
  • Offices
  • Know More

A former homeschool mom who sees the world through the lens of 18th century Virginia…and discovers Lafayette everywhere she turns.

Copyright © 2025
Cressida by LyraThemes.com
Verified by MonsterInsights