The Manor House of Beallair

by Lois Bryan

Title

The Manor House of Beallair

Artist

Lois Bryan

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Art / Photography Based Digital Hand-painting

Description

Very happy to announce that "The Manor House of Beallair" tied for third place in the 6/1/2022 contest "Architecture Photopainting" held by the Artistic Aperture group. Many thanks to contest administrator, Bob Lentz, and everyone who voted for my image. Congratulations to the other winners!

The graceful golden manor house of Beallair sits comfortably on the rise of a hill among the brilliant fall colors of a soft autumn evening. The original home, now the rear portion of the present structure, was built by Thomas Beall prior to 1800. Beall's daughter Elizabeth married George Corbin Washington in 1807. George Corbin was the grandson of Augustine Washington, half-brother of George Washington, and Col. Lewis Washington was their son. The present front of the house was added in 1820. To look at it today, no one would ever know the history it's seen or the part it played in one of the historic events leading up to the American Civil War: John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

On October 16, 1859, John Brown and 18 men entered Harper's Ferry and captured the federal armory. After having secured a large cache of weapons, Brown ordered his men to obtain local hostages and bring them back to the armory. Their intent was to use the hostages for ransom. Their first stop was Beallair.

Col. Lewis Washington later described his kidnapping in testimony to a U.S. Senate committee: "They appeared at my chamber door about half past one o'clock in the morning. My name was called in an under tone, and supposing it to be by some friend who had possibly arrived late, and being familiar with the house, had been admitted in the rear by the servants, I opened the door in my night-shirt and slippers. I was in bed and asleep. As I opened the door there were four armed men with their guns drawn upon me just around me."

Colonel Washington and three of his slaves were kidnapped and several valuable family heirlooms were stolen: a sword allegedly given by Frederick the Great (King of Prussia) to George Washington and a pair of pistols given by Lafayette. Brown was fascinated with the Washington relics. The hostages were taken to Harpers Ferry by way of the Allstadt House and Ordinary, where more hostages were taken. All survived their captivity, and Washington identified Brown to the Marine rescue party. During the assault on John Brown's Fort, a saber thrust at Brown was allegedly deflected by the belt buckle securing the Washington sword.

Image lightly sketched from and loosely inspired by my own original photography. Digitally hand painted in Corel Painter.

Not created using Artificial Intelligence / AI.

Fine art purchases of this image will not include a watermark, and if I may make a recommendation ... this image will look its very best on the fine art paper choice of "picture rag."



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October 25th, 2021

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