UMW Senior Uncovers ‘Mary Washington Mystery’ at Historic Preservation Internship

Natalie Froustet ’27 was organizing a portrait collection during her summer internship with Preservation Virginia when she made an amazing discovery. Hidden inside a closet at the John Marshall House in Richmond was a centuries-old painting of Mary Ball Washington.

Or so she thought.

“I learned that Mary Washington was never painted during her lifetime, so it was actually a portrait of George Washington’s face on his mother’s body,” said Natalie, a historic preservation and environmental science major and museum studies minor. “A relative commissioned the painting so he could sell it to make a lot of money.”

Natalie Froustet ’27, a historic preservation and environmental sciences double major at Mary Washington, made an amazing discovery of a forged painting of Mary Washington during her summer internship through Preservation Virginia. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

The painting of Mary Ball Washington that Natalie Froustet discovered at the John Marshall House in Richmond. The portrait, which was falsely attributed to 18th-century artist Robert Edge Pine, was actually of George Washington’s face on his mother’s body. A Washington relative had it commissioned to make money after her death. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Will Glasco, Preservation Virginia’s chief executive officer, said the painting is “now known to be a forgery, yet it’s famous in its own right.” In fact, George Washington’s Mount Vernon had been searching for it for decades, so he and his colleagues arranged a transfer of the piece, noting that proceeds will help fund future initiatives for their collection. “We might not have made such a discovery without our paid interns and the support of the Chrisman Family Foundation.”

While Natalie’s find featured a fake Mary Washington – the painting was falsely attributed to 18th-century English artist Robert Edge Pine – she has had numerous real-world learning experiences through UMW’s Department of Historic Preservation, one of the nation’s top undergraduate programs in the field. She’s also grateful for the generous donors who’ve supported her education and professional pursuits.

“No amount of thanks could be big enough for Sam Baronian and Preservation Virginia for giving me this opportunity,” she said of the donor who established the Chrisman Family Foundation Internship. She also received the Dovetail Cultural Resource Group and Kathleen Myra and Everett Geno Jr. scholarships for historic preservation majors, noting that they helped alleviate the cost of college.

Natalie Froustet at Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, another site that is overseen by Preservation Virginia. During her first-ever archaeological dig, Natalie discovered a fragment of a ceramic plate. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie Froustet (left) with a fellow intern from William & Mary (center) and Elyse Werling, director of interpretation and collections at Preservation Virginia. “We did an archaeological dig to ensure that there were no important cultural artifacts,” Natalie said, as the historic museum was installing an accessibility ramp on that site. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie Froustet labels objects – reproductions and props rather than original artifacts – on display at Scotchtown’s Patrick Henry exhibit. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie, who grew up in Chesterfield County, Virginia, had a passion for the past ever since she was a child, thanks to her grandfather, a Civil War and World War II buff, and her parents, who brought her to museums in Washington, D.C.

“I was researching colleges during the pandemic and found UMW’s historic preservation program,” said Natalie, who was accepted to the University through early decision.

As a first-year student, she joined the Presidential Emerging Leaders Program, which prepared her for her current leadership role as a Washington Guide. Last spring, she earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to help purchase new UMW-branded gear for her fellow guides, who lead campus tours for prospective students and their families.

Natalie Froustet, who holds a leadership role with the Washington Guides, while pitching a proposal last spring. Her initiative earned a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant to purchase new UMW-branded jackets for the Washington Guides. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Natalie Froustet in her Washington Guides role, posing for a photo with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

But she’s mostly focused on applying her classroom learning in the field. Associate Professor of Historic Preservation Michael Spencer ’03 helped her secure a National Park Service internship that gave her insight into historic landscaping. And Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation Katherine Parker, director of UMW’s Archaeology Lab, inspired her to become an aide there.

Natalie has also worked closely alongside Associate Professor and Center for Historic Preservation Director Christine Henry in fieldwork, learning about digital photography, measuring and creating scaled drawings, and engaging in archival research.

“Natalie brought a real curiosity and open-minded exploration of buildings, both as artifacts of the past and as a repository of stories of the people who created, used, and transformed these spaces,” Dr. Henry said. “She’s also the kind of student who naturally helps the group gel together in order to get the work done.”

Natalie Froustet played George Washington in the Department of Historic Preservation’s annual Ghostwalk last fall and resumes the role this year on Oct. 23 and 24. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie Froustet participating in a historic mortar workshop at the Mary Washington House, organized through the Department of Historic Preservation in partnership with Dominion Traditional Building Group. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

UMW students Natalie Froustet (right) and Gavin Rice apply new mortar to the bricks in the Mary Washington House basement during a workshop organized by UMW’s Department of Historic Preservation. Photo courtesy of Natalie Froustet.

Natalie has also begun interdisciplinary research with Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Melanie Szulczewski, studying metal contents in pre- and post-industrial brick buildings in Fredericksburg. They plan to share their findings at the Soil Science Conference in Portland, Oregon, later this year.

“It’s fascinating how much these fields intersect,” said Natalie, who is taking U.S. Women’s History, Moonshine and American Memory, and Introduction to Biological Archaeology this semester. “I’m considering a career in archaeology, so this is a chance to learn about human bones and remains.”

And for fun, she’s playing the role of George Washington – not his mother – for the Historic Preservation Club’s annual Ghostwalk student-led tours in downtown Fredericksburg Oct. 23 and 24.

“I know that I’ll use the skills I learned at UMW and in my internships in whatever future career path I choose,” said Natalie, who plans to work before pursuing a master’s degree. “Mary Washington has already opened so many doors for me.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants. Find scholarship opportunities that are available to UMW students.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04.