A lecture and reception co-sponsored by The Library Company of Philadelphia

Anne Verplanck is an independent scholar and curator based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, working with museums and individuals on their collections.  She was formerly the Curator of Prints and Paintings at Winterthur Museum, and has worked in the museum field since 1980.  She has taught graduate courses, lectured widely on the topic of portraiture, and has curated exhibitions on the subject. A graduate of Connecticut College, Dr. Verplanck earned her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the College of William and Mary. Throughout its history, Philadelphia has had a rich artistic tradition and active art markets. Between 1760 and 1860, discrete segments of the city’s population commissioned specific types of small-scale portraits — silhouettes, miniatures, and daguerreotypes (early photographic images). Some went to specific artists, such as Charles Willson Peale and John Henry Brown. Quakers gravitated towards silhouettes and, later, daguerreotypes. Philadelphians then used these portraits in particular ways, adapting widely available forms to their specific needs. Through their commission and use of portraits, Philadelphians simultaneously crafted their identities and shaped art markets. Silhouettes, daguerreotypes, and ambrotypes from the American Philosophical Society and the Library Company of Philadelphia will be highlighted in this talk.

Reception: 5:30 p.m., Program: 6:00 p.m.

RSVP:  sduffy [at] amphilsoc [dot] org or call Reception Desk (215) 440-3400