The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-19

mission at Annapolis" Col. John
Trumbull. the artist. Of Connects.
cut, was Washington's young
friend and aide, and was called by
him Brother Jonathan"-the
origin OF the epithet.
Vanderlyn's full.length Wash.
ington," now in the hall of the
House. was ordered by Congress
and is based on Stuart's full
length. This picture proved so
satisfactory to the Congressional
committee which had the matter
in hand that on it's completion
they increased the original price
from $1,000 to $500.
BRUMIDIS FRESCO.
On the opposite side Of the hall
Of the House we may observe
Brumidi's quaint old fresco,
"Washington's Headquarters at
Yorktown" signed. ''Brumidi, an
American citizen" The allegori-
cal ceiling decoration in the Dome,
representing the "Apotheosis Of
Washington" is also by Brumidi,
who was recently called to our
attention when, the ceiling of the
Presidents room at the Capitol
fell, destroying a fresco head Of
Washington.
Two copies OF Houdon's full
length Washington statue. at
Richmond, Va, may also be
found at the Capitol. one in
plaster, made by Mrs. James
Hubbard, an English artist born
in 1910, who died in 1852 and who
came to the United States when
only nineteen, and bronze replica
in the adjoining statuary hall.
Pierre Jean David dangers
bronze portrait bust Of Wash.
ington," by the noted French
sculptor. is also in the Rotunda.
In Washington circle, at the
National Capitol. there is a no
table equestrian statue OF Wash
ington, by = ark Mills. the face
modelled after the Houdon bust.
This work was dedicated on
February %, 1860, when the Hon.
Thomas S. Bocock. Of Virginia,
delivered an grafton.
And now to Mount Vernon by
trolley, or steamer il you like, for
a glimpse of Washington portraits.
But let us stop off bit at Alex
andria, Va, where in the Masonic
Hall hangs an old painting OF
the Father Of His Country. said to
be the best actual likeness in
existence, and not 30 flattering
as the others.
A STUART COPY.
In the banquet hall at Mt. Yer
non is the Gilbert Stuart, reported
10 be after all only a Stuart copy
from his or ginal Washington por-
trait, and accepted, 1t is said. by
Washington in order to allow the
artist the benefit OF retaining the
orig nal in his studio, where II
brought him many new commits
sions, This Mt. Vernon copy WINS
from Stuart's third original, for
which Washington sat in 1895 ct
the sole tation of Lady Washing
ton, of whom Stuart also painted a
portrait. 1t was a disappointment
to Martha, we are told, that she
did not receive the originals. and
she called often at the artists
studio to see these portraits, but
Wash ngton gave Stuart permits
sion to keep them.
Other Washington portraits may
be found at Mt. Vernon, but the
best likeness is the Houdon bust,
made from life in 1875. Following
washington's return to Mt. Vernon
in 1884, after eight years absence
in the serv &c of his country, the e
House Of Delegates voted to pro-
cure a statue of General Washing
ton Of the finest marble and best
workmanship. Thomas jefferson
and Benjamin Franklin, then In
Par.s as representatives of the
United States, were delegated to
select the sculptor. To their choice
we are indebted to Jean Antoine
Houdon, who came to America in
the following year, after his recov-
cry from an illness. Houdon can
celled a commission from the En-
press Of Russ IN order to accept
the work for America.
HOUDON'S FAMOUS WORK.
Charles Wilson Peale had been
employed TO paint full-length por-
ira I of Washington as a model
for Houdon, but this did not salts
fy the sculptor, so he crossed the
ocean and was for two weeks a
visitor at Mt. Vernon. Washing
ton N his diary records the visit
and the slit nEs.
,.,,.i,.al I OuO Emo N