Professor: I've mentioned in earlier classes that different artists portray a famous person

differently, uh, depending on a number of factors. To explain what I mean, let's take an
example of one of the most well-known figures in United States history, George Washington,
and see how different artists have portrayed him and talk about why the portrayals are so
different. So to set the context, uh, who can tell me why George Washington is so important in
United States history?

Female Student: Well, he was a general in the revolutionary war against the British, and he
became the first president of the United States. He's known as the father of this country.

Professor: Right. Though it's a bit ironic, cause, while he was a general, things didn't go so
well in the beginning. His soldiers almost left, it was cold, their shoes were wearing out, but
he persevered. And as you mentioned, he's...he's known as the father of this country. But he
was a reluctant soldier and a reluctant president. He thought of himself more as a farmer, one
of the people and artists who painted him during his lifetime often showed that. And sculptors,
actually one artist who took this approach was the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.
Houdon made a sculpture of Washington in the 1780s, during Washington's lifetime. In the
sculpture, Washington is wearing clothing typical of a landowner of that time. He has a
walking stick in one hand and behind him is a...a plow used in agriculture. And his military
coat with its medals and his sword are lying at his side. He's not holding or wearing them. So
this sculpture, the way Washington was represented, well, you could say it's symbolized
American democracy.

Houdon is often called the sculptor of the enlightenment, a period of revolution and social
change. He valued American democracy and tried to capture it in his work. This statue appeal
to most Americans in Washington's day. It showed him as someone who put down his sword
and gave up his military power. Washington eventually retired from politics, managed his
farm in Virginia.

Okay! After Washington's death in 1799, because he was such a famous figure artists
frequently made paintings and sculptures of him. These representations of Washington were
quite different from Houdon’s sculpture. They, uh, they often glorified him, almost making
him seem super human. One of these heroic mythic sculptures is by Horatio Greenough. His
sculpture Washington in the mid-nineteenth century, over forty years after Washington's death,
the statue was commissioned for the capitol building, the seat of the United States
government. Do you remember the picture in your book? What did you notice about it?

Female Student: Um, Washington looked like he was an ancient Greece. He was wearing a
Greek toga.

Professor: Yes. Greenough was inspired by the classics and presented Washington in the
same way that the ancient Greek god Zeus was. He might’ve thought that for an important
building as the capitol, it was okay to portray Washington as a Greek god. Or... or maybe he
was influenced by the so-called Greek revival style that was popular in architecture in the mid-
nineteenth century. Anyway, his Washington sculpture was quite controversial. Why do you
suppose that was?

Male Student: Um, well, like you said, it makes him look super human, like he's immortal or
something above the law. People couldn't identify with someone like that.
Female Student: And showing him as a god, wouldn't that like go against democratic
principles?

Professor: Good point. People didn't approve of a sculpture that made Washington seem so
different from common people. Americans were wary and, you know, suspicious of a leader
having great powers over ordinary people. They wanted that leader to be normal, subject to the
law, like everyone else, and... and not someone with god-like powers. Other people spoke out
against Greenough statue simply because they didn't appreciate its classical style. Um,
eventually it was moved out of the capitol building to the grounds outside it. Now the statue
is... well, it's even harder to see it. Now it's in the basement of a museum. So that's an example
of how an artist’s interpretation of a famous person can backfire if it's contrary to that person's
public image.
6. What is the main purpose of the lecture?
O To explain how sculptors choose a subject
O To discuss contrasting representations of a historical figure
O To argue that artists should explain the symbolism of their work
O To show how artists can influence public opinion of a historical figure

7. Why does the professor consider it ironic that George Washington is known as the Father of
His Country?
O Washington nearly failed initially as a general.
O Washington had no children of his own.
O Washington almost lost the election for president
O Washington is not portrayed accurately in either of the sculptures discussed in the lecture.

8. What point does the professor make about Houdon’s sculpture?

O It imitates ancient Greek sculptures.
O It was created after Washington’s death
O It reflects a political ideal valued by the sculptor.
O It was copied by other eighteenth-century artists.

9. According to the professor what detail of Houdon’s sculpture was well received by the
public?
OThe sculpture was made of marble.
O The size of the sculpture was realistic
O Washington was not wearing a sword.
O The decorations on Washington’s coat were prominent.
10. Why does the professor mention the Greek Revival style in architecture?
O To account for its popularity in the city of Washington, D C.
O To help describe the architectural style of the Capitol building
O To explain that Greenough was an architect as well as a sculptor
O To offer a plausible explanation for Greenough's portrayal of George Washington

11. What does the professor imply was the reason for moving Greenough’s sculpture of
Washington several times?
O It was too large for most of the locations.
O People objected to the way it represented Washington
O People did not agree on where it could best be viewed.
O Greenough wanted it to be shown in different locations.