Saving Monticello: The Newsletter
The latest about the book, author
events, and more
Newsletter Editor - Marc Leepson
Volume XV, Number 6
June
1, 2018
“The
study of the past is a constantly evolving, never-ending journey of discovery.”
– Eric Foner
JOHN LOCKE IS BACK: Most readers of this newsletter know that when Thomas Jefferson died (on July 4, 1826), he left his family with a huge debt: more than $107,000. That forced his heirs—his daughter Martha Randolph and her son Thomas Jefferson Randolph—to sell virtually all of Monticello’s furniture and furnishings (as well as his enslaved people)—and eventually Monticello itself.
That sad state of affairs is an integral part of Saving Monticello and I cover it in
detail in the book. As I wrote, the Randolphs held a sale on the mountain on
January 15, 1827, that lasted five days. There is no complete record of who
bought the items, but family letters reveal that Jefferson’s grandchildren
purchased most of the furniture and furnishings. Jefferson’s art works
(including sixty-three paintings) and books were not part of the January 1827
auction.
The family decided to market the paintings and other works
of art in Boston, where they thought the collection would bring better prices
than in Charlottesville. They held a sale at the Boston Athenaeum in July 1828
with disappointing results. A second sale took place five years later, on July
19, 1833. It was an auction at Harding’s Gallery in Boston. Again, the results
were disappointing; only a few paintings were sold.
I didn’t go into detail in the book about where the
paintings went or what they sold for. But I’ve since learned that an unidentified
buyer bought a portrait (for $35) that Jefferson owned of the famed Enlightenment
philosopher John Locke. That painting—a copy of one from the Royal Society in
London, which Jefferson purchased in 1789—had hung in the upper tier of the
Parlor at Monticello in a group with Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton. Jefferson
called them “my trinity of the three greatest men the world had ever produced.”
Sometime after 1833, the Locke portrait made its way to
Harvard University. In 1959, Harvard donated the painting was given to the Thomas
Jefferson Foundation and it was restored to its place in the Parlor.
Flash forward to a few years ago.
A group of visitors touring Monticello noticed that the Locke painting was in
not-great condition. Inquiries were made. The visitors then generously decided
to donate the funds to have it conserved. To do the work, Monticello hired
Scott Nolley, who runs Fine Art Conservation of Virginia.
Before After
In a short, but fascinating
video, Nolley, Monticello Assistant Curator Emilie Johnson, and Monticello
Museum Technician Caitlin Hepner explain the complex process of getting the
painting back to its original 18th century condition. It involved a
“reversal,” and much in-repainting and retouching.
The before-and-after images are
from the page on the Monticello web site that includes the video. Take a look: http://bit.ly/2LockePainting
EVENTS: Here’s
a rundown on my June speaking events. For info on my latest book, Ballad of the Green Beret, please go to http://bit.ly/GreenBeretBook
·
Saturday,
June 9 – Talk on Flag: An American
Biography and book signing at the Maryland DAR Chapter Regents Club
Luncheon, Chevy Chase, Maryland
·
Saturday,
June 16 – Talk on Ballad and book signing for the Mount
Vernon Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria,
Virginia
·
Thursday,
June 21 – Talk on Flag and book
signing for Washington (D.C.) Metro Oasis (Life-Long Learning), Bethesda,
Maryland. For info and reservations, call 301-469-6800
· Saturday, June 23 - Virginia Chapter of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Charlottesville, Virginia
·
Tuesday,
June 26 – Talk on Saving Monticello and book signing for
the Augustus P. Gardner American Legion Post, McLean, Virginia
If you’d like to arrange an event
for Saving Monticello—or for any of
my other books, including Ballad of the
Green Beret—please email me at marc527psc@aol.com
For details on other upcoming
events, go to http://leepsoncalendar.blogspot.com
GIFT IDEAS:
Want a personally autographed, brand-new paperback copy of Saving Monticello? Please e-mail me at marcleepson@gmail.com I also have a few as-new, unopened hardcover
copies.
Or go to marcleepson.com/signedbooks.html to order copies through my local
bookstore, Second Chapter Books in Middleburg, Virginia. We also have copies of
Desperate Engagement, Flag, and What So Proudly We Hailed, and Ballad
of the Green Beret.
