Working with my team (Project Architect John Mesick, Architectural Historian Mark Wenger, both of Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, and Director of Archaeology for George Washington Foundation David Muraca), we set ourselves to the task of developing an illustration for this historic project Spring 2008. The goal is to create as accurate an image as possible with the recently discovered site facts and convey what Ferry Farm might have looked like at the time of George Washington's boyhood. This will be used in press conferences and the media as a counterpoint to the actual archeological remains that have been unearthed. A closely cropped house illustration highlighting period architectural details and what the home may have looked like is requested.

Before I begin a project such as Ferry Farm, experts like Mark Wenger, John Mesick and David Muraca must do their research and pull together the necessary support material that will educate me and guide what goes into an illustration. Mark Wenger has completed his research needed to formulate and then draw up what he feels the architectural plan and several elevations of the building looked like during this period.

I suggest a rendering with a wider context and more of the site. After group discussion, the decision is made to develop a concept that would encompass some of the property characteristics. The house was unusual for its time because it sat on the edge of a precipice with the front of the house facing the Rappahannock River; the site unusual with its Ferry Farm name. The expanded 'landscape' illustration will have more entourage and feeling for the site. With not enough time to collect the necessary hard copies of topographical information to build the perspective of this new illustration, I collect what I need online. Reading through much of George Washington Foundation's historical data on their website, I start to get a feel for the property, accurate details of the time period and the Washington family. A GIS map with site topographical lines of the area is found on the Stafford County web site. Google World is used to quickly study what might be the best viewpoint of the site. Work begins on roughing out the site topographical features, most notably the rapid drop to the river, the river and the deep ravine to the north of the site.

A spot across the river is located that gives the preferred angle. After constructing a rough pencil line perspective to mass out the sites main geographical features, I submit it to the team for input. This is the first 'layer' of information for the composition. We wonder where the ferry landing might have been in relation to the property, if it should be included and where. John Mesick gives valuable input on the overall tone of the landscape, what might be the best eyelevel and overall proportions of the composition I am building.

The house is too small to convey adequate detail in the 24" x 34" landscape. A second rendering is needed to focus on just the house, its architectural detailing and colors. David Muraca lends his archeological expertise about the site, such as the river water level at the Washington's time, what animals to include and the actual foundation stone colors. Mark Wenger's expertise on the detailing and house color is crucial to get the most accurate historical image possible.

Below: photo of actual foundation stone fragments for color from David Muraca, Ferry Farm.


Top: The unique scalloped roof shingles in a scaled mock up. Below: one of the period house paint colors discussed. Both from Mark Wenger, Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker

Time is running out fast and painting the illustrations needs to commence. All the site data on numerous layers is complied into one master that is printed out and transferred onto the landscape illustration board by graphite paper. Another line rough is prepared for the house perspective. The house rendition is painted first, because of time restrictions and the fine detail required.

The two hand painted pieces are scanned at a very high resolution and combined in Photoshop, the team bounces around editing ideas to obtain the strongest and clearest image, which I implement digitally due to the time factor. The result is two images for use: the landscape with the house included and the house close up, both very high resolutions. The digital images are uploaded to my ftp web site folder and downloaded/printed in Virginia for the George Washington Foundation's board meeting.

Go ahead is received from the board and the final images are used for the July 2, 2008 press conference and have appeared in numerous newspaper, web sites and magazine articles around the world. Most notable are National Geographic, The Smithsonian Institution, The New York Times, The LA Times, Arab Times Online, NBC evening news and Science Daily.
Below: final image. L.H.Barker (c) 2008.

Mark Wenger is the consulting architectural historian for Ferry Farm. He is the author of The English Travels of Sir John Percival and William Byrd, 1701 and Carter's Grove: The Story of a Virginia Plantation, as well as several articles exploring various topics of architectural history. Wenger specializes in the study, preservation and restoration of 18th century structures.

Wenger currently works with the architectural firm of Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker, where he has worked on projects for clients including the University of Virginia, the College of William and Mary's President's House, Hasbrouck House and Hanover Courthouse. In addition to Ferry Farm, he has consulted on several projects, including Battersea, the Thomas Nelson House, Mount Pleasant and Gadsby's Tavern. Previously an architectural historian for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Wenger has a master's degree from the University of Virginia.