Gift to the American People from asrew mellon who served treasury secretary until 1932. Up next week visit the museum to learn about early american portrait painting and work of John Singleton copley. Dianne hello. We are standing in a room full of portraits i John Singleton copley, americas most important colonial portrait painter. I think as a look around the you can think back to the words of john adams 1817 who said when you see his portraits, you want a discourse with him, you want to asking questions and want toanswers you ask him questions and receive answers. In the early part of the 18th century, american early painters made ambitious but tentative efforts to capture the likeness of people on canvas because portraiture was really the only way to do that. It was the most type the most important type of painting in the colonies. There was a great flourishing of activity with johnson will copley that became with John Singleton copley. Are two of the first highlevel portrait paint
National galleria of art was a gift to the American People from financier Andrew Mellon who served as treasury secretary until 1932. Up next, we visit the museum to learn about early american portrait painting and the work of John Singleton copley. Dianne hello. I am dianne stevens. We are standing in a room full of portraits by John Singleton copley, americas most important colonial portrait painter. I think as we look around the room, you can think back to the words of john adams, 1817, who said when you see his portraits, you want a discourse with him. You want to ask him questions and receive answers. Let me give you some background. In the early part of the 18th century, early american painters without much background and training made ambitious but tentative efforts to capture likenesses on canvas because portraiture was really the only way to do that. It was the most important type of painting in the colonies. There was a great flourishing of activity that became elevated to a l
Massachusetts merchant and political figure. He was 82 when this was painted. Copleys shown him just as he was. Youll notice the way hes painted the face and the hands is a little different. This is 12 years later. Copleys changed his technique, so the hands are painted with al little bit more fluid paint and in the face as well. Its easier to show the details, so copley is changing and developing as he goes along through his career in boston. Il so copleys portraits of men po show you these very substantial realistic figures that look ial comfortable in their setting an you have a sense that they had, these two men especially, that , theyve had successful lives and theyre in a good place. His paintings of women sometimee are just so ravishingly beautiful in their attention to fabric and texture and the o beauty of the skin, like this portrait of Anne Fairchild bowler. Ms. Metcalfe bowler. This was painted in 1763, so about the same time he was proac painting epes sergeant, but its a t
Ellishistorian joseph leads a talk on the early revolutionary war through the letters of john and Abigail Adams. This is at amherst college. This is part 2 of a twopart lecture. We last saw Abigail Adams giving birth to four children, five really. Over a 12 year period. The question i asked you is, how should we assess her role in the coming of the American Revolution . Sexist ortent is it just the opposite of that, to call attention to the fact that the dominant events in her life are biological, rather than, political . Someone who wants to be true to the experience of women at this time, does that mean you are going to be not interested in the political story . The political story for them is about a lot of things. You know what im getting at here. A couple of comments, if we possibly can. Yes . Where are you from, maryellen . Student west chicago, 30 miles west of chicago. That is really west. Student i am thinking of catherine al gores book. She was a student of mine. Student that
P. M. And midnight eastern. Next, historian joseph ellis leads a talk on the early revolutionary war through the letters of john and Abigail Adams. This class is at amherst college. This is part 2 of a twopart lecture. Prof. Ellis we last saw Abigail Adams giving birth to four children, five really. Over a 12 year period. The question i asked you is, how should we assess her role in the coming of the American Revolution . To what extent is it sexist or just the opposite of that, to call attention to the fact that the dominant events in her life are biological, rather than, political . If you are someone who wants to be true to the experience of women at this time, does that mean you are going to be not interested in the political story . The political story for them is about a lot of things. You know what im getting at here. A couple of comments, if we possibly can. Yes . Where are you from, maryellen . Student west chicago, 30 miles west of chicago. Prof. Ellis that is really west. St