George Washington was our first president. You know this. Heck, Caedmon probably knows this. So, what's the big deal about Washington? Was he really that smart and great?
For this week's blog, you are going to read an eyewitness account of George Washington's inauguration and analyze a piece of art called "The Apotheosis of Washington" which is painted on the ceiling in the U.S. Capital Building. Be sure to read the accompanying explanation of the painting on that website.
For the comments section, please complete the following:
1-Write 50 words on your reaction to the inauguration story. What do you think the "feeling in the air" was on that day?
2-Write 50 words on your reaction to the art. What does this art say about how Americans view Washington?
I feel like the feeling in the air on the day Washington was sworn in a not a very happy day. sure he was the one everyone wanted but it's the first time anyone ever did anything like that. the feeling was probably very awkward just looking around and standing. the article said Washington was embarrassed to fidgeting around too. (60)
ReplyDeletethe painting in the U.S. Capitol building is very pretty. I honestly this picture looks like the different ages of the us. in one of the sections of the painting it looked like a general leading men. this may have represented a strong general some people may have thought it was Washington. (51)
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I think that the people in America felt really tense, nervous, frightened, and slightly excited all at the same time. They had been freed not too long ago from a strong, central government, and they probably feared that the new government would turn into a strong, central government. They were probably tense, excited, and nervous because this was the first President of the new nation.(65)
ReplyDeleteAmericans clearly pictured George Washington as a god, if the piece reflects their views. Washington was being lifted to heaven while surrounded by everything that meant something to Americans. It showed some of their beliefs, things that helped them survive, and even 13 women representing the colonies. In this picture, Washington is viewed as the center of America. He brought and kept America together. The art shows that he is the reason why we are here today, and if he hadn’t been involved, hadn’t been elected as President, America would have failed because he is the center, the core. He was the final, most important piece of the puzzle, the piece that brings it all together to create a finished picture. (121)
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This report sounds very different from what I thought it would be like. This article says that President Washington did not want to go to New York and leave his house on Mount Vernon. I also said that he appeared very nervous because he kept switching which hand he held his notes in.(53)
ReplyDeleteThis painting is in the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building one hundred and eighty feet above the floor. I found it interesting that in the painting Washington is ascending to heaven and that the name of the painting "Apotheosis" means being raised to the rank of god. Americans then obviously viewed Washington very highly.(55)
I think everyone was nervous and excited about America having its first president. Everyone was paying close attention to what was going on. Washington was very nervous and wouldn’t look up from his paper while he read his speech. It had taken a little while for congress to figure out how the whole inauguration ceremony would go in the first place. I also thought it was interesting that they had forgotten a bible to swear them into office so they had to borrow one from somewhere. (86)
ReplyDeleteThis painting is incredible, and was really hard to do since Brumidi had to paint a huge painting on the ceiling. The painting shows him being lifted up to heaven with 13 women around him representing the original 13 states. The Americans thought of Washington as a god, and the painting shows him as one. He was the first president so he’s kind of a big deal, but they thought he was way bigger than he actually was. He was just a regular guy who was a smart leader. (89)
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For the inauguration speech I thought the feeling of in the air was what is he going to do. A lot of pressure was put on Washington because everything he did would be considered normal for every other president he had a huge job of shaping our country to the country it is today. The painting I think the pics Washington as a American God he is put on such high standard because he was our 1st president and is looked up to by every other president since them. I think that he was a very good president and that we may somewhat over exaggerate what he did, yes he was an intelligent man but I think we over exaggerate just a little.
ReplyDeleteI think the “feeling in the air” was awkward and people were nervous. Even the president, George Washington, was nervous. It said that he kept fidgeting or something. He probably did not look very professional at all. Some people were probably very excited because it was the first president! I do not think George Washington was very excited. (58)
ReplyDeleteThe painting was very strange. The people must have really respected him though to paint something like that. The description below the picture says that it depicts George Washington to the heavens in fame. Clearly he was famous which is obvious because he was the president. The people thought highly of George Washington. He is surrounded by lots of women because he was awesome and a ladies man! (70)
George Washington’s great sense of duty had him accept the position, but he hated leaving Mt. Vernon. The celebrating towns along his trip, the barge made for his entry. The gun salutes, and the quickly formed procession showed we were doing something new to show respect for the first presidency. Washington is portrayed as being reluctant, awkward, and a bit preoccupied. I think he was in a new environment and a new position that made him feel humble but also very aware of the unknown that was ahead of him. (90)
ReplyDeleteThis painting defiantly shows George Washington as a demigod. The names of the figures Liberty and Victory/Fame by him show the importance of these words to Americans and also the significance of the original thirteen colonies that are in the painting. The thirteen colonies are represented as females in the painting.
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When I read this thing, it sort of reminded me of when a horse wins the Kentucky Derbie. They go to the winner's circle thing and are awarded with a huge blanket of roses! They set up all this fancy stuff up for him when he came. But Washington didn't seem quite as thrilled about it as the people were. I got the sense that he just wanted to stay home and sit on the couch. (75)
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna be honest here. The painting made no sense to me! Were those like angels or something? Laugh if you want because I have no clue. When in doubt, make references to basketball. I think to some people George Washington was like the LeBron James of the NBA. Everyone knew his name and everyone (but Jenny Armao) loved him. He was the most well-known person in the country so... why not make him president? (77)
Washington seemed to be a small town boy that hated publicism but was an amazing leader. That day in history will be a day everyone will remember but a day Washington will want to forget. The hype had to be amazing just after all they had gone through and then to have stability must have been a great feeling.(60)
ReplyDeleteThis painting was depicting every huge person in history including all of the gods everyone looked up to. By including Washington in this painting they were saying that he was equal with the gods in their eyes and at that time he was their real life god instead of a myth.(52)
At his inauguration, Washington was treated like royalty, even though that was what America was trying to avoid by electing a president. At one point, someone called him, “His Excellency,” which I thought was actually a tad bit overboard. But I understand that these people weren’t used to the concept and were probably very confused about having someone in power over them after going so long without. (67)
ReplyDeleteIn the painting, Washington is depicted almost like a god. The description said it was a picture of him “rising to glory” and I get that. I do. And I understand he was our first president and, once again, this was all new us, but a painting of that caliber? It just strikes me as too much praise. I know that George Washington was a great president, but he was just a man. (73)
I think that the "feeling in the air" was kind of mixed. I think that some people felt weird, awkward, and tense. Then I think that some people felt like it was something that was very exciting and almost fun! It was something exciting even if not every one felt comfortable!!(51)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first looked at the picture I had no idea what it was. But then when I look at it, it looked like an eye with people in it. So I think that a lot of people really respected Washington. For someone to take this much time to make such a detailed and beautiful painting, that would meant they would have to have quite a bit of respect for the person they were painting it for! They thought of Washington as a god, when I read under the picture it said that it was like Washington raising into the glorious heavens.(102)