From the Museum Council of Philadelphia and The Rosenbach Museum
Wednesday, February 15, 3:00pm-4:00pm
An Unblushing Impudence: The Meek and the Murderous in 18th and 19th Century American Women’s History (Hands On Tour)
Women in early American history were bound by intricate rules of etiquette, attire, and manner. Visitors will meet these modest maidens and those who flouted the rule book: accused witches, assassins, thieves, and – worse! – stage actresses. The tour brings together objects from across the Rosenbach’s collections: etiquette guides, cautionary tales for children, recipes for homemade cosmetics, trial accounts, paintings, and household furnishings.
Wednesday, February 15, 6:00pm-7:30pm:
Learn more about the artistic world of one of America’s most celebrated artists, Thomas Sully. Best known for hispaintings of wealthy and influential women, Sully produced upwards of 2,000 portraits in his lifetime. His subjects also included mostof the prominent politicians and families in the United States, including several members of the Gratz family of Philadelphia that are in the Rosenbach’s collection.
However, most people don’t realize that hundreds Sully’s works also ventured into literary and imaginative topics,sometimes even appearing as book illustrations. Join lecturer Carol Soltis, Associate Curator at the Center for American Artat the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a new perspective on the prolific career of Thomas Sully.
Wednesday, February 22, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Tourists & Their Travels (Hands On Tour)
How did people travel in 19th-century America? In this hands-on tour we hear from gold rush emigrants, settlers, soldiers, Indians, and European tourists. Examine the travel papers they left behind-maps, advertisements, broadsides, letters home, guidebooks, and scrap books-and see where they went and what they saw.
Sunday, February 26, 3:00pm-4:00pm:
Book Illustration: Worth a Thousand Words (Hands On Tour)
This tour delves into the technology of book illustration, from illuminated manuscripts to photographs, along with a close look at some of the talented book artists represented in our collection, including Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, William Blake, and George Cruikshank.
The events are open to the public, and free with admission.
