A letter written by George Washington that is set to be auctioned by Christie's details the founding father's conflicting views of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, diva designer of the District of Columbia.
L’Enfant's visionary plan for a new capital city filled with "wide boulevards and lush public spaces" that "married European style with American egalitarianism," is admired by many in the District and in planning circles. However, L'Enfant's legendary temperament, which cost him the commission, was less admired by his peers, as Washington's letter makes clear.
"But Washington then pivots, noting that L’Enfant is 'the only person with whose turn to matters of this sort I am acquainted, that I think fit for it.'”
"Chris Coover, a senior specialist in rare books and manuscripts at Christie’s, reads in the letter an American president 'conflicted' over the designing genius. Impressed with his work, annoyed by his temperament, for, after all, L’Enfant was 'very arrogant . . . very full of himself.'”
FULL STORY: Christie’s to auction letter detailing George Washington’s impressions of L’Enfant
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