For this challenge, get creative. Reach far. And remember that “masterpiece” can mean many things. We want to see awesome sites you’ve discovered, fantastic things you’ve come upon, wondrous moments you’ve captured, and more.
IN A NEW POST CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PICTURE OF A MASTERPIECE.
A few years ago I had the privilege of attending a teacher institute in Colonial Williamsburg. It was one of the highlights of my life. One place we visited was the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. I could have stayed for hours at each exhibit reading all the blurbs, but tours always keep moving. If you don’t keep up, you miss the lecture which is more detail than what is written on the blurbs, and you can ask questions. You take a few pictures, and poof, you are gone. You forget almost all the stuff you learned. Five years go by. Lo and behold someone at WordPress suggests that everyone create a post on masterpieces. Yeah!
Some accused George Washington of kingliness, but his portrait painter, Charles Wilson Peale, captured the essence of Washington assuring folks that although he was to be honored and revered, he was somewhat of a regular guy as compared to King George III.
“Washington wears the blue coat with buff trim of the Continental Army. The epaulettes with stars on his shoulders along with the blue sash identify him as the Commander in Chief. His riding boots, spurs and his sword show him to be a gentleman officer. And his pose, leaning on the barrel of the cannon show him relaxed and in control.
Portrait of George Washington. Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1780. Oil on canvas. OH: 96 1/4”; OW: 61 3/4.”
Gift of John D. Rockefeller, Jr” Dewitt Museum
King George III dressed in his best at about the same time would not have dreamed of wearing a cotton or wool jacket. A little rabbit, a little silver, a touch of velvet, and gold let the world know that he was blinged out.
He assured the people that their tax dollars were working hard for them. Doesn’t everyone have a painting of their horse hanging on the front of their shirt? Ah yes, and the hair… This was not synthetic hair. These beautiful locks originally had hung on someone else’s head, and had been laboriously sewn into a wig, hair by hair. George Washington wore his own hair.
Speaking of masterpieces. Girls learned at very young ages to take their time and create a masterpiece of needle work. Here are two samples that passed the mustard standards set up by the museum. I would have given these girls an A+ if they had been my students. How about you? Every tried any needle work yourself? Cross stitching, embroidery anyone? My embroidery looks like a two-year old did it compared to what these twelve or fifteen year old girls accomplished.
One last peek. Does anyone want to compete?
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
18 responses to “Wednesday: WP Photo Challenge: Masterpiece”
The Colonial people were soo soo dominant in India once. We have it in our course books in schools. They ruled over India and then the freedom struggle continued, I know the whole history, amazing and cruel.
Whenever I write something about India, you are the first person who comes to my mind. So pardon me for the delay but here’s one more thing, with Love from India–
http://privyplace.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/magicalindia/
🙂
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Thank you so much Tanushree. Whenever I think of India, I think of you. 🙂 I’ll read this as soon as I finish all my comments. 🙂
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That’s an honor for me 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
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I’d love to know how you got over 3,000 followers! What did you do? Do you have that many friends? How do you remember me, when you have so many people in your life?
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Hhaha.. you are funny. I guess people just love me! just kidding 😀
I have many friends but I remember very few. I always remember you. Your life after retirement is soo rocking. I wish the same for me 🙂
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It will be, but remember I am 61, and you are not. So don’t wish that on yourself. You have so much in front of you that is rocking, too! 🙂
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I know! But I like the way you are leading your life 🙂
inspired me 🙂
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Awww. That makes my day. Everyone wants to inspires someone, and to be able to inspire someone as talented as you is such a nice compliment. I am honored indeed. 🙂
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Sewing wigs hair by hair, sounds very laborious. I wish I’d saved my beautiful teenage hair. I could have made a gorgeous wig to wear on bad hair days. 🙂 People who can create such amazing samplers as these, have my undying admiration. The clothes these guys wore, made them look like real ‘dandies’. 🙂
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They were dandified for sure, but they were heads of state. If anyone COULD be dandy I guess they had the means!!! :). I get you a see by number kit for your 100th birthday! 😄
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😆
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I used to cross-stitch but I could never compete with these works. But then I had to work, raise children, prepare meals, etc. Twelve & thirteen year old girls don’t have any of these distractions to worry about.
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True enough. It thirteen I was hand sewing Barbie doll clothes using big, uneven stitches. Remember those patterns printed on fabric. You just cut and sewed.
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Would you believe that George Washington was not the 1st President of the United States? My (now 16) son taught me this a few years ago. I was like what??? Then he explained. Ok – so I wasn’t sleeping in history class (all the time).
Thanks for sharing some fine masterpieces 🙂
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I have heard that, but I forget what the reasoning was. I’m not sure it was totally accepted by the historical experts.
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President Washington is the 1st president under the current Constitution or something like that.
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I love those gorgeous samplers. Isn’t it astounding to think that young girls worked these.
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It is. Hard work yields results. Listening to the book Outliers today. The results of effort is way more impressive than the luck of brains.
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