On 2/22/2012 10:49 PM, Sgt42RHR@a... wrote:
> Years ago I did a lot of research on 18th century house paints, and one of
> the things that surprised me was the array of often bright colors; a second
>   thing I learned was that in the 18th century they liked shiny finish and
> would  often have several coats of oil applied.  There are records from Mt.
> Vernon  (George Washington's home - Jeff) indicating, for example, colors
> including  orange and bright blue.  I also learned that a lot of the so-called
> flat,  dull colors often associated with the 18th century came from in the
> 1940's and  50's when existing original paint from the 18th century was taken
> at face value,  rather than clear understanding of how the colors had
> changed in 150-200  years.
>

I was just up at Mt. Vernon a few weeks ago. As might be expected, they 
have done a ton of research and analysis to determine original paint 
colors and to restore the rooms to their appearance at the time George 
and Martha actually were living there after the Revolutionary War.  I 
certainly can attest that those colors were bright - in fact, I must 
admit that I found a couple of the rooms kinda ugly and garish. But that 
supposedly was the fashionable style at the time.

- Bill T.
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