Friday, January 29, 2010

A Reader's Home & Treasure of Landscape and Chinoiserie Murals

This is the kind of email that for me, as a blogger, is so exciting to receive. In response to my recent post on windowless dining rooms, I was contacted by a reader about the landscape scenes painted in her historic Woodstock, VA home built in 1796. Winnie, the homeowner, commissioned artist Virginia Jacobs McLaughlin of Frederick, MD to paint a Shenandoah Valley inspired landscape wrap-around mural in her dining room. Absolutely stunning!!
Now in her 80's, this talented artist has been painting for the last 50 years and her work is featured at the Mount Vernon Inn, Brafferton Inn, Grand Army of the Republic Building in Gettysburg, Defense Acquisitions University and numerous other public buildings and private homes. This includes the 1750 Julia Etchison-Hannah house in Frederick, MD, of which an author noted the following about the dining room mural; "To say that Virginia McLaughlin's mural ably captures Frederick County during the Civil Was is to damn with faint praise. The mural is quite magnificent, providing a sweeping panorama of the great landmarks, moments, and key players." (complete article, go here. author unknown)
In an article by Greg Caruth of DUA Press he notes, "Her painting style is full of personality and incorporates the styles of Moses Eaton and Rufus Porter, and includes hints of the famous French scenic wallpapers by Zuber et Cie...She paints boldy and directly on the wall with little or no preliminary drawing. She consults photos and drawings from many sources, but as she explains, the finished wall is sketched in her mind before she starts painting." (full article here)
Winnie mentioned that it was Virginia who strongly urged her that a Chinoiserie landscape scene would be the best choice for the front parlor. Yes, absolutely the best choice! Love this.
An interesting note about Winnie's home is that the original plat was laid out by a young surveyor named George Washington. If you would like to see even more close-up photos of Virginia's work in this home, which is now for sale, go HERE
Virginia does not have an email or website, but if you're interested in contacting her, send me an email and I will forward her number. I think having Virginia's painting in your home would be something to treasure. mynottinghill ( at ) gmail (dot) com.

20 comments:

La Maison Fou said...

Oh these are wonderful,
thanks so much for sharing with us.

I can so admire and respect what goes into planning a full scale mural or ceiling painting!

All I can say id it can bring a stiff neck! Lots of ben gay; ....

Thanks again,
Leslie

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I adore murals! One of my favourite things ever. I've had them done for several clients and have a couple in my own home here. They are magical and so charming.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

the dining room and living room murals are so amazing! So lovely and a great selling point for the home! I just hope any potential buyers realizes that and doesn't paint over them!

Chemin des Muguets said...

Thank you for passing on this information, as well as pictures of these amazing murals and the artist behind their creation. Inspiring!

Marjorie

Abby said...

Wow, these are stunning!

Acanthus and Acorn said...

This is such a fantastic way to enjoy a cold Friday afternoon! The images are spectacular!!! Such an immense amount of beauty and talent. What a wonderful gift for you, thanks so much for sharing it with us. Bet I can guess what you will be dreaming of tonight....
p.s. Thank you so much for your kind words on my bathroom project.
~Rebecca

Dumbwit Tellher said...

Beautiful home. Such beauty in her dining room you don't notice the lack of windows. So happy Winnie shared her lovely photos. Good weekend to you ~ deb

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

So pretty and unique-I love seeing a home like this. These murals are beautifully painted-I know it will be hard to leave them, what a treasure awaits the new owner.that bench in the dining room I love.

jules @ The Diversion Project said...

What an amazing home - i love the little red roofed house tucked away in there.

jules

alaine@éclectique said...

Thankyou, I adore all of it!

pve design said...

That was the article I was looking to send to you.
I remember being so enamored with her work and her vision to see the mural complete before she even began, as an artist I think the same way.
pve

Susan said...

Isn't that little red roofed house Mt. Vernon???

The murals are lovely--no make that breathtaking. I went to the real estate listing and was shocked at the low price for the house. Perhaps I've become too used to big city prices. A real treasure awaits the next owner.

Gwen Driscoll said...

Michele,

This house is absolutely stunning! And the story just makes it that much more wonderful. I love murals, have one in my own Dining Room. I've got a house that is going to be in Elle Decor in the fall that has a beautiful one in the Dining Room. Stay tuned! Can't wait.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous!

Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

What a treat...and such beautiful work! Wow. I meant to respond to your first post, I recall a local designer did quite a mural in his dining room...I am wondering if the artist was the same. Check out the porfolio of Matt Swingly from McMaster Wallace Interiors (http://www.mcmasterwallace.com/main.html)

debra @ 5th and state said...

what an element of individual personality that home displays...and the artist is 80?!
xo
debra

Lisa Porter said...

Thank you, thank you for sharing this with us. She is a master indeed. Lisa

Pearls Of Zelma said...

Lovely - so beautiful !

Agneta

Jennifer Sergent said...

I adore this house -- those murals are just gorgeous -- you have very chic readers!!

Kathysue said...

Love murals when they are done as well as this one. Would love to put one in my entry, I think it makes for a wonderful Ta-da!!! Kathysue

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