The Jason Russell House was the site of the bloodiest fighting during the first day of the Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775. Today it and the adjoining Smith Museum hold collections of the Arlington Historical Society.
Portrait of Francoise Poncelle, Madame Leblanc By Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Painted in 1823, it hangs in the Met in NY. |
Lecture SeriesThe Lure of Material CultureTuesday, April 29, 2003Robert Fredieu, an Arlington resident, will show samples from his collection of shawls, sharing their history and construction. Mostly European and Kashmir, they date from the late 1700's to 1870. The shawl in the portrait is probably not more that 10 years old at the time of the painting so it is 180 to 190 years old. This was a rather wealthy woman in France after the Restoration. A typical scenario would be that it is a wedding gift. It would be a very, very nice gift. This would have easily cost more than the average person's yearly salary. It was most likely made in Kashmir of Cashmere (that's where the name comes from). It is a striped shawl with yellow, orange, and white as the predominate colors. It would have been softer than any cashmere you would be able to buy today. The weaving process would have taken 2 to 4 people 3 to 9 months. It is hand woven much like a tapestry. It is also amazingly tough and could easily be in existance today. The lecture will be held at the Smith Museum, adjacent to the Jason Russell House. Admission is free and seating is unreserved. The lecture will take place at 8:00 p.m. with doors open at 7:30. Wheelchair access is at the Jason Terrace entrance. Directions |