Real Faces of George Washington Postcard Set Houdon Life Mask

Description: The Real Face of George Washington Postcard Set See the real face of George Washington. A Photoshop reconstruction of Jean-Antoine Houdon's 1785 life mask of George Washington premium matte postcard set of 6 cards. Various views of George Washington's life mask. Starting with a high-resolution photograph of the George Washington life mask created by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828); combined with meticulous research into eye color, hair style and color, eyebrows, complexion, etc.; and the magic of Adobe Photoshop this resultant image takes the viewer back to that day in 1785! In this image, after years of leading his country's successful war for independence and now deeply enmeshed in the fledgling nation's struggle to form an effective government Washington shows the burden of leadership. Gazing into his face one cannot help but to wonder what great national trial or tribulation was weighing on his mind that day. Before photography, life masks were the best way to give us an exact likeness of their subject. Plaster would be applied to the head and sometimes upper torso to create a mold from which a life mask (cast bust) of the person would be created. In addition to being three-dimensional, the faithful transfer process of the life mask creation eliminated the artistic license and sympathetic treatment employed by many contemporary portrait artists. Thus, using life masks, I am able to complete a forensic/academic study of how the subjects most likely appeared using Adobe Photoshop to add flesh, hair, and other details. Jean-Antoine Houdon visited Mount Vernon on October 2, 1785 and stayed with Washington for two weeks. During his two-week stay, Houdon followed Washington around, observing his posture and expression. He also took detailed measurements of his body and created the life mask to serve as a model for Washington's face. He applied grease to Washington's skin, put quills in his nostrils so he could breathe, and then covered his face with wet plaster. This impression created a mould that, once dried, could itself be filled with plaster to create a positive image of Washington's face. Because Washington necessarily had his eyes closed, Houdon had to hollow out the pupils of the plaster mask to give the face a life-like expression. Washington's diary entry from October 10, 1785, indicates that he was fascinated by the process, and thoroughly documented the materials and method by which the plaster was prepared that day. In the servant's hall adjacent to the Mansion, the General had laid down on a wooden table. His hair was pulled back, covered by a towel, while a large sheet protected his clothes. Oil was generously applied to his face, so that the hardened plaster of the mask would not adhere to his skin. Two large quills were placed inside each of the General's nostrils to ensure he could breathe. About Digital Yarbs: I am Cheryl A. Daniel, also known as Digital Yarbs, an ardent aficionado of both Photoshop and history. My passion lies in reconstructing life masks, statues, and busts of renowned early Americans and other prominent historical figures. Using life masks, I completed a forensic/academic study of how the subjects most likely appeared using Adobe Photoshop to add flesh, hair, and other details. My site, yarbs.net features reconstructions and animations of these life masks along with a little history and how the subjects might have looked in daguerreotypes and photographs. About Life Masks: To understand what these historic figures really looked like we cannot rely on paintings as they suffer from artistic license and sympathetic treatment commonly employed by many contemporary portrait artists. Before photography, the art form of the life mask was the best way to create an exact likeness of an individual. Basically, plaster would be applied to the head and sometimes upper torso to create a mold from which a life mask or bust of the person could be cast. This would result in a three-dimensional, faithful transfer capturing in minute detail the true likeness of the subject. Sculptors John Henri Isaac Browere and Jean-Antioine Houdon cast life masks of George, Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and many other historical figures. Thomas Jefferson endorsed his life mask bust, as did James and Dolley Madison when they saw it several days later. James Madison said of his own life mask, "Per request of Mr. Browere, busts of myself and of my wife, regarded as exact likenesses, have been executed by him in plaister, being casts made from the moulds formed on our persons, of which this certificate is given under my hand at Montpelier, 19, October, 1825." Browere's casting process utilized a proprietary plaster mixture that due to its lightweight nature did not distort the facial features of his subject's face as the common plaster utilized by his contemporaries did. This by all accounts resulted in what was considered an extremely accurate likenesses. J. I. Browere's work achieved a stark realism uncommon in that day. His plaster busts showed the age-lined brow, the pock-marked face; his subjects appeared as they were, not as artists generally portrayed them. His life masks were, and remain, the most authentic likenesses of some historic figures who lived in a day before photography provided more easily obtained but similarly uncompromising portraits." Digital Yarbs Items: My works are available as postcards, high quality archival giclée prints and limited edition canvas prints numbered and signed with certificate of authenticity. Canvas Prints: Are Limited Edition, Signed and numbered with Certificate of Authenticity. Giclee wrapped canvas 16x20 .75 inch edge, open back with mirror border. Paper Prints: Are Signed, numbered with Certificate of Authenticity and made of Kodak Professional Endura Premier Lustre paper. My signature on the back is signed with an archival acid free ink pen and the blue logo stamp uses archival acid free ink. Postcards: Are 4×6 premium matte. Postcards come as a single card, pack of 10, pack of 25, or pack of 50. Canvases, prints and post cards contain NO watermarks. Free Shipping within 3-5 business day via USPS. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your item, we will completely refund your order. Visit yarbs.net for more information on this image and to see more of my works with life masks. What did the Founding Fathers look like? Can we know for certain? Video will open in a new window Using the mobile app? Copy this link into your browser:

Price: 8 USD

Location: Providence, North Carolina

End Time: 2024-09-20T20:54:03.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD