Quite appropriate for President’s Day studies is this book hot off the press: The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon by Carla Killough McClafferty.
Purchasing this book in the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center bookstore after President’s Day weekend special events, I’m am having a fascinating time reading it during quiet moments throughout the week.
Based on the exhibit at Mount Vernon, this is a combination history, art, and science book.
HISTORY
History, in that it tells the story of the man who was first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
ART
Art in that it begins with the amazing French Houdon of Washington, the most accurate in correctly portraying what he looked like.
SCIENCE
Science in that it uses cutting edge modern technology to recreate the likeness of Washington in his earlier years.
MOUNT VERNON EMPLOYS THE SCIENCE + ART TO ENHANCE THE HISTORY
Employing these laser-honed likenesses at their recently opened new museums, Mount Vernon created life-sized wax figures of Washington from various stages of his life throughout the exhibits.
The center piece of the two museums is the amazing Houdon of George Washington, with a video showing, through reenactment, how the Houdon is made with a life mask, capturing every minute detail of the subject’s face.
Then entering the doors of the life of Washington in the 18th century, we see at each stage wonderful life-sized wax figures of Washington portraying different aspects of his life, which are portrayed on the front cover of the book.
PAINTINGS LOOK NOTHING LIKE WASHINGTON
Those who knew Washington observed the paintings of him looked nothing like him.
I have never seen a picture that represents him to me, as I saw him at Valley-Forge, and during the campaign in which I had the honour to follow him. Perhaps that expression was beyond the skill of the painter; but while I live it will remain impressed on my memory. -Pierre-Etienne Duponceau
HOUDON LIFE MASK CAPTURES WASHINGTON
In 1785, Jean-Antoine Houdon, a French sculptor, was commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly to create a statue of General George Washington to place in the rotunda of the state capitol, that Thomas Jefferson was designing.
Upon arrival at Mount Vernon, Houdon set forth to create a life-mask of George Washington, which he then transported to France to create the infamous sculpture that now graces the Virginia state capitol.
When Washington’s beloved adopted son, Lafayette, returned to America in 1824 for a grand tour, he remarked upon seeing the statue: That is the man himself.
Likewise, all Washington’s friends and family members concurred.
The Houdon sculpture was the single-most representation of George Washington ever created.
FORENSICS ANALYSIS TO WORK BACKWARDS IN TIME
In 2005, masters of their craft studied the Houdon, to scientifically work backwards in time to get as accurate a rendering as one can possibly have of George Washington to create wax figures, representing key periods of his life.
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG ARTISANS ACCESSORIZE THE WAX FIGURES
Most properly attiring the wax figures of George Washington throughout various stages of his life, are the handiworks of Colonial Williamsburg artisans.
Linda Baumgartner, specialist in the early history of textiles and costumes for Colonial Williamsburg, researched measurements.
The tailors reproduced period accurate shirts, neck ware, and gloves.
The leatherworker made the breeches, that was worn by one of the horsemen who realistically dirtied them up for a couple of days while horseback riding, before they were put onto the wax figure!
We know the man who made all the boots/shoes for Washington’s wax figures, except we had no idea he was a shoemaker, since we know him for misc other duties!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOK
Interspersed with the history of George Washington and amazing photography of the process, the book ends with note from the author, timeline, source notes, selected bibliography, further reading list, index, and photo acknowledgments.
I highly recommend this informative and easy read.
For homeschoolers, the book would fit well for dialectic and rhetoric students.
And of course, fans of all ages of the 18th century gentleman who defined a nation will be inspired.
First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. -Light Horse Harry Lee, eulogizing the recently passed George Washington
