Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A visit to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate

The Neoclassical Georgian architectural style of Mount Vernon restored to how it looked in 1799. The main homestead area is skirted by a carriage road with a large bowling green located in the center.

I have had the pleasure of touring George Washington's Mount Vernon five times. Each time was fabulous experience! The house and grounds are so large that on every visit I see something I had not seen before. Theses photo's are from a viset four years ago with a group of tour guides from Historic Homewood house Museum built in Baltimore as a Summer home in 1801. George Washington tuck up residence at Mount Vernon in the mid 18th century, he transformed the Mansion's modest frame exterior, using a process called "rustication." This meant replacing the original plain wooden siding with bevel-edged pine blocks that had been coated with a mixture of paint and sand to give the appearance of stone. The appearance of rustication, creating a rough, unfinished stone-like surface, can be worked on a wooden exterior.

This process became popular in 18th century New England to translate the features of Palladian architecture to the house-carpenter's idiom: in Virginia Monticello and Mount Vernon both made use of this technique. Mount Vernon in particular makes extensive use of feigned rustication and sanded paint and the original finished surfaces of several original planks still survive. Further, Washington added a stunning two-story porch, or "piazza," overlooking the Potomac. Here family and guests would gather in warm weather to enjoy the breeze off the river. Another Washington addition to the house was a cupola -- which served as both a decorative rooftop element and a practical device. With windows open, the cupola helped to cool the house on sultry summer days. After the war, Washington added to the Mansion its final crowning touch -- a gold leaf dove of peace weathervane atop the cupola.


The house was built in phases, as the off-center main door makes evident. The structure once contained the northern portion of the house until it was expanded several times in its history. The house is framed by two covered walkways leading to servants hall on the left and the kitchen to the right. A circular courtyard completes the grand appearance of the house.The main house is located in the center of these support buildings and was once the hub of all the activity at Mount Vernon. The house has two story's with a hipped roof with dormers. In designing his estate, Washington organized the outbuildings, lanes, and gardens in a way that reflects both the practical and aesthetic sides of his nature. From the north to the south are situated the outbuildings, or "dependencies," where the work of the plantation took place. Along the east-west axis are the gardens and pleasure grounds. The work area, although located very near the Mansion, was designed so it would not intrude upon the property's scenic beauty.


Today the Mansion has been restored to its appearance in 1799, the last year of Washington's life.

"I have no objection to any sober or orderly person's gratifying their curiosity in viewing the buildings, Gardens, &ca. about Mount Vernon. ”

—George Washington, letter to William Pearce (November 23, 1794)



Forensic reconstruction of Washington at 19, based on analysis of his clothing and a life mask




The main homestead area is skirted by a carriage road with a large bowling green located in the center.


The exterior of  Mount Vernon makes extensive use of feigned wood rustication and sanded paint. The cupola is topped with a dome and a spire with a gilded dove of peace.




Walking down to the Potomac.


Side of Mount Vernon


Looking out over the Potomac.


The Eastern facade, facing the Potomac.


The Eastern facade, facing the Potomac.


The upper garden, located to the north, is bordered by the greenhouse. These gardens grew the household's vegetables, fruit and other perishable items for consumption.


The upper garden, located to the north, is bordered by the greenhouse. These gardens grew the household's vegetables, fruit and other perishable items for consumption.


The upper garden, located to the north, is bordered by the greenhouse.


These gardens grew the household's vegetables, fruit and other perishable items for consumption.


The upper garden, located to the north, is bordered by the greenhouse. These gardens grew the household's vegetables, fruit and other perishable items for consumption.

Bacchus and Ariadne (Salon of 1822) by Baron Antoine-Jean Gros

Bacchus and Ariadne (Salon of 1822) by Baron Antoine-Jean Gros

Monday, November 29, 2010

Self Portrait, circa 1818 Claude Marie Dubufe

Self Portrait, circa 1818 Claude Marie Dubufe

Riversdale manor house built between 1801 and 1807

Roversdale built between 1801-1807 An entry porch with Tuscan columns

Riversdale a Palladian five-part house built in the Federal style was begun by wealthy Flemish émigré, financier and art collector, Henri Joseph Stier of Antwerp. He, his wife, and children fled the Low Countries in Belgium and the armies of the French Revolutionary Republic in 1793. The Stiers lived briefly in Philadelphia and then moved to Annapolis. In 1799, Stier's younger daughter, Rosalie Eugenie, married George Calvert, a American Aristocrat planter, state legislator, and a descendant of the Lords Baltimore - his father, Benedict Calvert, was a natural son of the fifth Lord Baltimore. George's sister, Eleanor, married George Washington's stepson, John Parke "Jacky" Custis. George and Rosalie spent part of their honeymoon with the Washington's at Mount Vernon before settling on George's tobacco plantation in Prince George's County.




In 1800, Stier bought 729 acres near the port and spa town of Bladensburg and began construction of his new manor house. As construction began, the Stiers rented Bostwick in Bladensburg. They moved into their partially built house in 1802. Plans for the grounds were developed by landscape architect William Russell Birch in 1805.



Meanwhile, conditions in Europe changed as Napoleon Bonaparte declared an amnesty for the émigrés. Mr. and Mrs. Stier and their older children returned to Antwerp, while the Calverts moved into Riversdale and completed it by 1807. The Federal interior is of such high quality as to support the local tradition that attributes the design to William Thornton, architect of the Capitol. For thirteen years Riversdale housed the Peeters/Stier collection of European paintings, which was unique in the United States at that time. It included more than 63 paintings by such artists as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck, Jan Breughel and Titian. However, most of the larger pieces were kept in storage, and in 1816 they were returned. However, before they were packed, Rembrandt Peale persuaded Rosalie Calvert to display them for two weeks at Riversdale in April 1816. The correspondence between Rosalie Calvert and her family survives and is the basis for Mistress of Riversdale: the Plantation Letters of Rosalie Stier Calvert, edited by Margaret Law Callcott (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991). These letters provide a rich source for the restoration and interpretation of the house.



She pulls no punches: she hated "Tommy Jeff" and "Queen Dolla lolla" Madison; thought American might benefit from a king; made major investment decisions for her family; described the "rockets' red glare," (glimpsed from her bedroom window); wrote about her husbands infidelity with slaves and oversaw her daughter Caroline's debut into society.

Mrs. Calvert never returned to Europe as she hoped to do. She died at Riversdale in 1821 at age 42 having borne nine children, five of whom lived to maturity. George Calvert did not remarry and died in 1838.



The front doors are topped by a fanlight


The front doors are topped by a fanlight


Front hall




Staircase


The study with Fine imported hand blocked French wallpaper and Baltimore made Federal furniture.


The west parlor was the salle de compagnie.


Doorway in The west parlor was the salle de compagnie.


The east parlor served as the dining room.


The east parlor served as the dining room.


The east parlor served as the dining room.


The east parlor served as the dining room.


Fine imported Neoclassical wool wall-to-wall carpeting


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice imported from France .


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice imported from France .


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice.

The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice.


Triple-sash windows open onto the porch, permitting passage from the porch to the center parlor.


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice.


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice.


The interior of the first floor contains three parlors across the south side of the house.


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice imported from France .


The central parlor, or salon de mileiu, is the most elaborate space, with wood Ionic pilasters, plaster ceiling decoration and a plaster cornice.


Family Old Paris porcelain in China closet


a wine cellar




Federal period Baltimore made desk


Federal mantel in bedroom


Baltimore Federal wishstand with Old Paris porcelain


A collection of Maryland made chairs used at Riversdale










The two story stucco-covered brick building was used as a kitchen, with single spaces on each level.