#1780

[ltwilliammowett]

View of His Majesty's ship Inflexible, by Captain Edward Pelham Brenton, 1780

[mapsontheweb]

Thought this was worth to share

[fashionsfromhistory]

Robe à l'anglaise

c.1780

Germany

Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Oldenburg

[digitalfashionmuseum]

Beige Floral Cotton Dress, 1780-1785, English.

Victoria and Albert Museum.

[artschoolglasses]

Wooden tea caddy with lock and key, 1780-1800

From the Victoria & Albert Museum

[lookingbackatfashionhistory]

• Dress.

Date: 1740-1760, 1780

[nordleuchten]

24 Days of La Fayette – Day 24

After hopelessly falling behind schedule (and honestly, whom was I kidding?) let us have a look at one of La Fayette’s most iconic portraits – the painting showing him in his continental army uniform done by Charles Wilson Peale.

The was commissioned by George Washington and cost 20 Guineas. It is commonly dated to 1779 but Peale used to date his paintings when he started working on them and not when he finished it. And La Fayette’s portrait had to hit a few stops before being finished. Peale wrote to Washington on July 21, 1780:

Dr Genl nothing but dire necessity would have compel’d me to have called on you for any money until the end of the War. but you will allow me to relate to you my situation, as it will be my best appolegy. The House I live in being unexpectedly Sold, I am warned to leave it in a very short time, being unable to get any place to Rent in which I could follow my profession. I have been under the necessity of entering into an Engagement for the purchase of a House. and have promised a payment by the first of next month, in confidence that I shall get it from 3 or 4 Gentlemen for whom, I have done some Bussiness. The portrait of the Marquis is thought very like. yet I hope to emprove it when the Marquis will favor me with another sitting—The other parts of the picture, I will finish with great care without loss of time. I am Dr Genl with great respect you most obedient Humble Servant Cha. Peale The Coppy of your portrait in Miniature five Guineas. The half length of the Marquis de la Fayette. twenty Guineas.

“To George Washington from Charles Willson Peale, 21 July 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-27-02-0193. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 27, 5 July–27 August 1780, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2019, p. 233.] (12/24/2023)

Some time later, on December 12, 1780, Washington wrote to Peale, inquiring after the portrait:

Dr Sir, I perswade my self you will embrace the oppertunity of the Marquis la Fayette’s visit to Philadelphia to give the picture of him the finishing touches. You may not have another oppertunity and I wish for its completion. I am Dr Sir Yr Obedt Servt Go: Washington P.S. as I presume you must be done with my picture of the King of Prussia ’ere this I should be glad to have it returned to me.

“From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-29-02-0321. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 29, 28 October–31 December 1780, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2021, pp. 487–489.] (12/24/2023)

Peale replied promptly on December 18, 1780:

I expect that the Marquis will give me a setting tomorrow, I waited on him in the beginning of last Week and found that he was engaged with the other foreugn Officers in taking a View of the several Grounds of battles and Encamptments. My intention is to give you the most compleat portrait I am Capable of painting.

Notes from “From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-29-02-0321. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 29, 28 October–31 December 1780, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2021, pp. 487–489.] (12/24/2023)

The last letter regarding this portrait was written by Peale and addressed to Martha Washington on January 16, 1781:

I should be glad to be informed whether the portrait of the King of Prussia has yet reached head quarters: please to acquaint his Excellency that his picture of the Marquis is much aprroved off altho’ not entirely finished, for I have thought proper to ma[k]e an entire change of the back ground.

Notes from “From George Washington to Charles Willson Peale, 12 December 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-29-02-0321. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 29, 28 October–31 December 1780, ed. William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2021, pp. 487–489.] (12/24/2023)

It is not known when Peale finally completed the portrait.

There are often some comments that this was not Peale’s peak performance, but something is remarkable about this painting – it does not sugarcoat anything. Many paintings of La Fayette show a very idealised version of him. Peale on the other hand shows us a young, slightly fleshy, red-faced General with a receding hairline.

The portrait was and still is fairly well-known and popular. Washington had it displayed in Mount Vernon’s Front Parlor. It was later moved to a guest room, commonly referred to the “Lafayette room” – the room the Marquis occupied when visiting the Washington’s in 1784. It’s former place in the Front Parlor was then occupied by a large painting of the whole La Fayette-family. It was later given to the Washington and Lee University. The spot in the “Lafayette-room” is now filled with a high-quality reproduction.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

[mercuriicultores]

1780, Augustin Pajou, Mercure

[misscromwellsmonocle]

Thomas King as Touchstone in ‘As You Like It’ (1780) by Johan Zoffany

[curiouscatalog]

Ancient animals doing animal things.

From: Les antiquités d'Herculanum : avec leurs explications en Franc̦ois. P. Sylvain M. Paris, Chez David, 1780.

DG70.H5 M2 1780

[escapismsworld]

Johann Heinrich

The Muse Calliope (from The Nine Muses, 1780)

[ltwilliammowett]

Expedition across the Atlantic to Boston fregate l`Hermione 1780, by Alexander Shenderov 2015

[mapsontheweb]

Linguistic map of proposed Neo-Byzantine Empire

by georgianmaps

The Greek Plan was an early solution to the Eastern question which was advanced by Catherine the Great. It envisaged the partition of the Ottoman Empire followed by the restoration of the Eastern Roman Empire centered in Constantinople. The map shows approximate linguistic situation of the proposed new state 🇬🇷🇧🇬 . . .

[fashionsfromhistory]

Waistcoat

1780s

Fashion Museum Bath

[artschoolglasses]

Embroidery Designs for waistcoats by Jean Pillement and Charles-Germain De Saint-Aubin, ca 1780-90

From the Victoria and Albert Museum

[eretzyisrael]