Undressing the Portrait: Aspiration, Attainment, and Fantasy in American Colonial Painting

Undressing the Portrait: Aspiration, Attainment, and Fantasy in American Colonial Painting

Sunday, December 2, 3 to 4:15 pm

Speaker: Tyson Scholar Susan Rather

The clothing worn by the men and women in colonial-era portraits can tell us much about the aspirations, attainments, and values of Anglo-Americans, without being a wholly reliable gauge of what people actually wore. Meet Tyson Scholar Susan Rather, who will appear in period costume to present a fascinating look at the language of clothing in early American portraiture. Join Rather in her exploration of the reality and fantasy of eighteenth-century dress as projected in paintings by a wide range of artists working in colonial British North America. Even seemingly realistic works (for example, John Singleton Copley's Mrs. Theodore Atkinson, Jr.) involve a high degree of calculation and some degree of negotiation between sitter and artist. This lecture is perfect for history buffs, clothing designers, theatre fans, and fashionistas!
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