tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post7327715421902374414..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: Madison's Drawing RoomBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-19878626962560620642009-10-01T10:53:11.206-06:002009-10-01T10:53:11.206-06:00The Madisons were certainly connoisseurs of fine a...The Madisons were certainly connoisseurs of fine art. By the way, you all know the story of Dolley saving the Washington portrait that still hangs in the Oval Office, don't you?Lindsey Shumanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536959819608584779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-59107480876307864742009-09-29T23:32:30.104-06:002009-09-29T23:32:30.104-06:00Quite so about Madison, Mark. I get that he didn&...Quite so about Madison, Mark. I get that he didn't cotton to the prevailing established sects, either for their inherent corruption and laziness, or perhaps their doctrines as well. One of these days I'll do a post on Madison's echo of Adam Smith on state-subsidized religion, which I think explains a lot.<br /><br />Americans as a rule despised those fat cat pastors who cared more about their government subsidy than their flock.<br /><br />As for the paintings, they were by Dutch masters. Anyone who wouldn't hang them in a place of honor is a brute.Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-29790052941099403752009-09-29T22:32:47.862-06:002009-09-29T22:32:47.862-06:00And Madison, even more than the other top-tier fou...And Madison, even more than the other top-tier founders, is simply baffling when it comes to religion. He hardly writes about it during his public life, but he was a serious theology student when at Princeton and even spent an extra year at university studying Hebrew with John Witherspoon. He's a puzzle, that's for certain. <br /><br />I wish he would have written more!Mark D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05000893614655251587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-65222029106916869512009-09-28T12:19:19.135-06:002009-09-28T12:19:19.135-06:00Although I am doubtful that someone's choice o...Although I am doubtful that someone's choice of paintings is a good window into his belief system. But I'll pretend to do so just because its fun.<br /><br />Although supernatural elements surround this story, the event depicted is a natural revelation. Jesus broke bread and, in the breaking of bread, the disciples understood who he was. Jesus was revealed, but without need for miracles or the supernatural.<br /><br />Theories that Jesus had not actually died on the cross had made it into print in the 18th century, so it is possible that Madison may not have deemed Jesus' presence in the room to be a supernatural event.<br /><br />I hope I have spinkled enough "maybe"s and "possibly"s and "I wonder"s in there. Sometimes, a painting is just a painting.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12165084874363214919noreply@blogger.com