George Washington Inn adds bronze ‘Prayer at Valley Forge’ – IOTW Report

George Washington Inn adds bronze ‘Prayer at Valley Forge’

h/t illustr8r

Sequim Gazette: An iconic piece of art is now a permanent, metallic fixture at George Washington Inn and Washington Lavender Farm.

Co-owner Dan Abbott recently placed a commissioned, bronze plaque inspired by Arnold Friberg’s “The Prayer at Valley Forge” on a brick wall at his businesses’ entrance.

The idea was born after Minnesota artist Ross Pollard surprised Dan and Janet Abbott with a miniature, circular bronze plaque of Washington’s head. This led Dan Abbott to ask Pollard if he had ever done a bigger piece.

For years, the Abbotts have had a giclee print of “The Prayer at Valley Forge” at the inn’s front desk. The couple has been a fan of Friberg for some time with Dan, a retired Canadian Mountie, owning several numbered prints of Friberg’s paintings of Mounties originally made for the Northwest Paper Company.

Friberg studied with Norman Rockwell, fought in World War II, and lived a long life painting until passing away on July 1, 2010 at age 96. For “Prayer,” he researched Valley Forge in 1975 near Philadelphia, Penn., to better depict Washington during his time there.

For the bronze recreation, Dan Abbot said that Pollard contacted the Friberg estate for permission to recreate the art piece in bronze and paid a small fee.

The 30-inch-by-40-inch bronze plaque, one of Pollard’s largest ever, took about 18 months from asking to making to placing, Dan Abbott said. MORE

11 Comments on George Washington Inn adds bronze ‘Prayer at Valley Forge’

  1. An admonition that God-inspired Divine Providence was essential for the creation of our nation in our struggle for independence is proper.

    I now propose another plague adorned with another Washington quote, one placed on both the WH and the Capitol;

    “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.”

    FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1796

    Washington for the originator of the “American First” policies and understood that foreign entanglements without self-benefit, were foolhardy.

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  2. Nicely done! Not just the bronze, but the integrity throughout the process:

    The owners honoring Washington’s faith by commissioning this scene, the bronze artist asking permission from the painter’s estate which only charged a small fee, and the reporter including the inn’s website in the story.

    I hope it brings renewed attention to both artists and more business to the inn!

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  3. That’s fantastic!

    I was thinking, if I had the resources to do it, of having stickers made that match the street signs in Richmond, to either add FREE or LESS to the street signs to Monument Avenue. Monument FREE Avenue. Monumentless Avenue.

    Yeah it’s vandalism, but it’s less destructive than what BLM/Antifa did and it’s actually true.

    It’s just a personal fantasy. It won’t happen.

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  4. My late wife bought me a large, framed inside glass print of Arnold Friberg’s painting The Prayer At Valley Forge for Christmas back in the 90’s that I have had prominently displayed on my living room wall all these years. It was one of the best Christmas presents that my wife ever gave me. And it’s a painting that I will pass on down probably to my oldest daughter after I’m gone.

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  5. That Inn looks fantastic. It’s a spitting image of Mount Vernon. I could drive all the way across the country to see it, but the real Mount Vernon is a little over an hour from here.

    The one thing I liked about the inn in Washington State is that even though it’s a bed and breakfast they don’t accept dogs or small children. They did a beautiful job recreating Mount Vernon though.

    If I lived out west I would go there.

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  6. @ Jethro. Sequim is on the Strait of Juan de Fuca a ferry ride away a really lovely area, a pretty good drive away. A gate way to Olympic N. Park.
    Only gets about 10 to 15 inches of rain a year its in a rain shadow of the Olympic mountains but the wind blows all the time, old logging and fishing area. Antifa does not like rural area’s. They would get a beat down up there.

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