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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
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February 10 2004
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 Posted - February 16 2009 : 06:29:31 AM
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Or, to use the less elegant term popular today, a hottie. Yes, according to this article, Martha Washington was not always the plump, plain, frumpy -- but RICH -- woman we see in portraits, but rather was, when she married George, a lovely, charming, SLENDER (and rich) woman with such fashion flair that she celebrated her wedding in sequin-studded purple silk shoes!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/02/02/ST2009020201419.html?sid=ST2009020201419&s_pos=list
In other words, not a woman George married only for her money. And it's also suggested that Martha married George not because he was her only suitor or the suitor with the highest social standing, but, in part at least, because he was a hunk. Some on this board would understand!
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Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
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February 10 2004
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 06:41:47 AM
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| Oops, I posted this where I was reading, with no thought as to where such an entry should go. If someone with more computer skills than I would move it to a more appropriate forum, probably Colonial Consciousness, I would be grateful. |
Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 09:56:04 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookworm
And it's also suggested that Martha married George not because he was her only suitor or the suitor with the highest social standing, but, in part at least, because he was a hunk. Some on this board would understand!
 Boy.... do I!
That's a great article, isn't it? I saw that recently. It has only confirmed what I have known and thought for quite some time. Just like with George, we can't look at those portraits that were done when she was the First Lady and think that is what she was like all of her life. After all, we were all young once! 
I was going to upload a photo of Martha's shoes, but for some reason, it won't work for me this morning. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
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February 10 2004
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 10:58:08 AM
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| Thanks for moving my misdirected post, WW! |
Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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August 16 2006
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 1:02:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Bookworm
Thanks for moving my misdirected post, WW!
I didn't. Must have been Rich. I'm not a moderator anymore, so I don't think I have that capability.
Obi, that painting, which was commissioned by Patricia Brady for her new book about Martha, has been criticized by some who say it looks too modern. What I would really like to see is the image that was created by the forensics lab, rather than this artist's version of it.
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"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Kay
Colonial Settler
USA
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January 06 2009
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 Posted - February 16 2009 : 1:26:33 PM
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Interesting topic, the whole idea of re-vamping George's and Martha's images. Bea and I were just talking about it this morning on the way to work. Do they have enough info to mold images of the couple? I love when scientists re-create people's faces. I saw heads of the crew of the hunley after scientists used their skulls to re-create their facial structure and also saw a head of what King Tut looked like using the same process on his mummy. Talk about bringing a person to life!-it sends chills up and down my spine to see those forms "staring" back at you!
Kay |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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August 16 2006
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 4:44:31 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
.....
Obi, that painting, which was commissioned by Patricia Brady for her new book about Martha, has been criticized by some who say it looks too modern. What I would really like to see is the image that was created by the forensics lab, rather than this artist's version of it.
I saw this same pic on the national news just the other night; they implied that it was the forensic image... |
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Kan-Tuck-EE
Pioneer
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December 31 2008
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 8:38:34 PM
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| I like this painting but like Wilderness Woman I would like to see the image created by the forensics lab. |
Kan-Tuck-EE |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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August 16 2006
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Posted - February 16 2009 : 11:27:07 PM
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I found the following description of the picture which I previously posted:
quote:
The likeness was based primarily on a computer generated age-regression image created by an Louisiana State University forensic anthropologist.
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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Posted - February 18 2009 : 12:39:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Obediah
The likeness was based primarily on a computer generated age-regression image created by an Louisiana State University forensic anthropologist.
Well, then... that proves my point. The portrait was painted "primarily based" on the forensics image. "Based on" means a not exact duplicate. In other words, the artist took some liberties.
The thing is... Martha was not an ugly woman when she was old. She was plump and matronly, yes, but not unattractive. She was probably a real looker in her young days. George found her very attractive. Yes, some would say that her wealth was the most attractive, and I would not deny that had a part in his decision to make her his wife. But, I believe he liked Martha for Martha, and grew to love her deeply. |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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Posted - February 18 2009 : 3:30:23 PM
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With some help from Sachem, I can now successfully show you Martha's wedding shoes! (Goll-durn those pesky apostrophies, anyway!  ) Thank you, Rich!
These are in the collection of Mount Vernon, and are displayed very rarely, due to their fragile state. The shoes originally had sparkley buckles that were studded with rhinestones, but they have apparently been lost along the way. The shoes are purple silk that was once much darker and richer, and are embroidered with silver thread.
By the way, brides did not wear white gowns in those days. That tradition did not come into being until the mid-19th century, as far as I know. And Martha's wedding gown was most likely not the same color as her shoes. They didn't worry about matching colors so much in the 18th century. In fact, they seemed to like a lot of contrasting colors, sometimes to the point of being quite jarring to our modern eyes.
Image Insert:
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"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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August 16 2006
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 11:05:56 AM
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I seem to remember reading recently that, due to the delicate condition of these shoes, they are only displayed for a couple of months every 10 years...BTW, whatever happened to those "bright and shiney" buckles?
Here's a photo of a replica of one of those shoes--gives a better idea of the original color; I wonder if the buckle is historically accurate? 
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 11:59:41 AM
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I just found a "portrait" of "Widow Custis" from "Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington by his Adopted Son George Washington Parke Custis," New York, 1860. But wait, that's not all! Here also is another historical woman's garment bearing her name!
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 1:13:50 PM
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I wouldn't rely too heavily upon John Wollaston's portrait of Martha. He is criticized for making all of his subjects look somewhat alike... same type of eye shape.
However, now you have something to compare the modern portrait to. Notice how the modern portrait shows her sharp collarbones and the bones in her hands? That makes her look overly thin. Notice how in the Wollaston portrait there are no such details? Her hands, neck and throat are perfectly smooth, and that makes her look "pleasingly plump." That was the style of painting in the 18th century. Artists didn't usually paint all of that boney detail in. That is the reason some have criticized that modern portrait of Martha. Some feel the artist should have done it more in the style of an 18th century artist.
We will probably never know what happened to the buckles, Obi. Buckles easily get separated from the shoes, because they are removable. I don't know where the shoes were before they were returned to Mt. Vernon. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
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May 19 2002
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 1:28:27 PM
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Stop it, WW....your description of the Wollaston is like,well.....an 18th c. "Stimulus Program"........
I like '........hands, neck and throat........perfectly smooth, and that makes her look "pleasingly plump." Oh, yeeeaaahhhhhhh! ...and those 'doe eyes.........', my-o-my! Wollaston did OK......IMNSHO. |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
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March 14 2005
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 3:34:51 PM
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| Now if I were a bit younger, ... |
you can keep "The Change" |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
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May 19 2002
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 4:14:08 PM
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| .............aaaaaaannnnnddddddddd................???????? |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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November 27 2002
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 4:35:42 PM
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I think we would rather you use your overly active imagination on that question, Seamus, than have MG answer it.
[WW rolls her eye Heavenward at the way Geezers can act like horney 17-year old boys at the mere sight of a woman's bare.... forearms.] |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 6:01:49 PM
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Don't forget those
'........hands, neck and throat........perfectly smooth, and that makes her look "pleasingly plump,".......so spaketh ye WW.
Hey, I'm pleased. |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
March 14 2005
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 8:22:34 PM
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| Yeah Seamus, - that's exactly what I was thinking too, great hands. ... :) |
you can keep "The Change" |
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di-mc
Pioneer
USA
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September 03 2008
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 8:51:50 PM
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| Time for a woman's point of view - great shoes!!!!! |
Diane
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
USA
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August 16 2006
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Posted - February 19 2009 : 11:08:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
.....[WW rolls her eye Heavenward at the way Geezers can act like horney 17-year old boys at the mere sight of a woman's bare.... forearms.]
There may be snow on the roof but there's fire in the furnace!  |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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November 27 2002
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Posted - February 20 2009 : 07:16:53 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by di-mc
Time for a woman's point of view - great shoes!!!!!
Aren't they?? I want a pair to wear with my "evening dress" gown! There actually is a company who has begun making a replica ladies' dress shoe that comes pretty close to being spot-on. Go here: Fugawee and scroll down to the bottom of the page until you find the Brocade Shoes. The one I covet, for the style and not necessarily the fabric, is the Louise. But...... that is just a bit too rich for my blood, for shoes that will be worn once each year. I shall have to be content with just drooling over them. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
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Posted - February 20 2009 : 09:41:18 AM
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A few more shirts, coats, etc., and you CAN get them, WW.......tuck some cash away and they shall be yours. Works for me on certain 'toys' I want/got.....
Pamper yourself...you deserve it! You only go around once. Besides, it will be something a certain Sjt., now a Leftenant, won't want when he sees them or buy out from under you FIRST! |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Kay
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
January 06 2009
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Posted - February 20 2009 : 10:53:08 AM
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Martha W's shoes are absolutely stunning! We carry Fugawee brand shoes at our shop. Mid 19th cen though-not 18th cen. They are good shoes though and Fugawee is one of the better period shoe manufacturers we have found to deal with. I know many living historians who swear by them so they would be a good investment!
As for the engraving of Martha in George Custis' book- if the engraving of her was made expressly for his book ca 1860- then the artist commissioned to create her likeness would have also used the figure of the "ideal" woman of the mid 19th cen. This "ideal" included fairly short height,small hands and feet,sloping shoulders,slightly plump, and a round "moon" face(although a "moon" face doesn't sound to romantic does it). The artist conveyed his 1860s idea of beauty when making Martha's portrait just like the modern artist conveyed today's idea of beauty when painting Martha's new image(skinny and bony is in!)
Kay
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Martha W. Was a Foxy Lady
