Keep it under your hat
Austin immediately found another dust-encrusted piece of fabric after the paint sweater. But this one was a paint cap. It had the same colored dry pigment specks as the sweater and I imagined the paint flying through the air as Moses painted the drop. It suggested the speed at which Moses painted, one of his greatest strengths.
The speed at which scenery was painted reduced the overall labor costs, thus returned the greatest profits to the shareholders. In 1881, Moses had recorded, “The others were able to draw more, because they were better in the artistic end, but I had it over them when it came to speed.” And it was this speed that mattered in both a studio and as a freelance artist.
Upon closer inspection of the little black cap, I noticed the Masonic insignia. This wasn’t simply any painter’s cap, it had a Scottish Rite eagle on it! It was just too much to comprehend and I floated back to the hotel after work. When you receive news that is so absolutely fantastic, there is a moment where you just want to keep it to yourself. I didn’t immediately call my husband, tell my mother, or notify any colleague. For just a day, I savored the discovery with the crew.
(Moses wearing New York)
(Had while painting drop curtain)
(Moses painting landscape in center of studio photo)
(Studio photo)
This was a turning point in my career and I could feel that this was simply the beginning. These artifacts, their discovery, and their further linking Freemasonry with scenic art would continue to expand.
To be continued…
