“From the Archives” Early Artists at Saint Mary Parish

Although most of Saint Mary’s early parishioners were merchants, planters and tradesmen, others pursued more unique, artistic occupations.

John Constantin Zepherine Javier de Poincy Generis, a refuge from the French Revolution, lived at 316-318 Duke Street, next door to the present rectory. M. Generis advertised a dancing academy and taught French from his home. For many years, Alexandria’s finest young residents learned manners and the minuet from him. He and his wife had several children and are mentioned frequently in church records.

Another French immigrant, Nicholas Vincent Boudet, arrived in Philadelphia with his family in 1793 and moved to Alexandria a few years later. He and his son, Dominic, painted portraits and miniatures, which were very popular before the invention of the camera. Son Dominic is said to have studied in Paris. Father and son traveled up and down the East coast, painting in all the major cities from Savannah to Philadelphia. Dominic also taught dancing and art. It is not surprising that the Boudet and the Generis families were close friends, acting as godparents for each other’s children.

Copying the work of other artists was a common and acceptable practice in the 1800s. In 1811, Dominic Boudet spent time at the estate of John Mason, the son of George Mason, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787. Dominic was there to copy the wedding portraits of George Mason and his first wife Ann Eilbeck, originally painted by John Hesselius. The whereabouts of Hesselius’ work is unknown, leaving Boudet’s replicas as the only paintings of Mason from life that exist. Copies can be found at George Mason’s home in Gunston Hall and at George Mason University.

Massive historic paintings were also very popular at that time. In 1819, the Boudets collaborated on a huge painting of the Battle of North Point, part of the larger Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. After months of work on the project, the city of Baltimore refused to buy it. Apparently the Boudets were better artists than they were businessmen. Dominic filed for bankruptcy in 1810 Alexandria. After the Baltimore fiasco, he went bankrupt again. There are no records of Nicholas after 1820. Dominic continued to travel from New Orleans to Philadelphia, painting until his death in 1845.  His sister Victoria was also an artist who advertised her drawing school for young ladies in 1810.

Levi Hurdle and his family, also Saint Mary parishioners, manufactured and painted ornamental furniture, signs and frescoed interior walls from the 1820s until after 1900. Albion Hurdle also was also a prolific portrait painter. He is likely the Hurdle who worked with John Trumbull in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Trumbull’s famous, massive painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1817-1818) there. That historic image appears on the back of the U.S. two-dollar bill.  He also assisted Trumbull in producing the “General George Washington Resigning His Commission” (1822-1824). Albion Hurdle died in Alexandria on April 6, 1861. His funeral took place at Saint Mary Church.

– Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

Throughout 2020, the Basilica of Saint Mary will present “From the Archives.” It is a weekly feature online and in our bulletin spotlighting the history of the parish. All of our “From the Archives” features are located here.