Jim Butcher: Robertson Windmill

Artist: Jim Butcher
1944 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 17.5 by 22.5 inches
Overall Size: 23.5 by 28.5 inches
Medium: Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board

The long, rectangular sails of Robertson's Windmill sweep close enough to the ground to knock a man down before soaring high above the peaked roof. Post mills like Robertson's have vertical sails that rise and fall majestically and, because they are perched on posts, they can be pivoted to face the direction of the predominant winds. Strong posts support the mill house and made the original post mills some of the most picturesque buildings in early America. As delicate as they are delightful, most of the post mills that once decorated the Atlantic coast ceased working long ago. But, in Williamsburg, Virginia, a reconstructed post mill recreates the original Robertson Windmill. This mill recalls a simpler American age, around 1720, when the best cooks for miles around brought their corn to the mill to be ground. In stormy weather, customers helped the millwright adjust the sails and were rewarded with extra mill time. But, if customers failed to pay their bill, the millwright might take a percentage of their crop. No remnants of the original Robertson Windmill were ever found. So, the new mill was constructed after five years of extensive research to depict the original as closely as possible. Even in our century, building a windmill was a tremendous challenge. But the accomplishment dims when we remember that the original mills were built years ago without the help of modern technology.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.S. 15¢ Virginia Windmill stamp issued February 7, 1980.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05996

US$ Price: $2,500.00

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