About the American Biography Walk in Washington
The National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, housed in adjoining buildings, provide a unique lens to probe American history and identity through and the biographies of key figures. In this three-hour walking seminar led by an art historian or curator, we'll explore the main works in each gallery and discuss the main themes of American art over the past 150 years.
We begin with Washington D.C. and its urban history, as the museum's building—originally the U.S. Patent Office—is a major work of Washington architecture. A cornerstone of the original l'Enfant plan, this will give us a good introduction to some of figures we'll meet once inside the museum, including the architect Robert Mills and Pierre L'Enfant himself.
Once inside, we'll focus on the Portrait Gallery first, one of the most important collections of American art in the country. We'll look at both the art as art—including a discussion of aesthetic trends, the role of art in America, and such key ar
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The National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, housed in adjoining buildings, provide a unique lens to probe American history and identity through and the biographies of key figures. In this three-hour walking seminar led by an art historian or curator, we'll explore the main works in each gallery and discuss the main themes of American art over the past 150 years.
We begin with Washington D.C. and its urban history, as the museum's building—originally the U.S. Patent Office—is a major work of Washington architecture. A cornerstone of the original l'Enfant plan, this will give us a good introduction to some of figures we'll meet once inside the museum, including the architect Robert Mills and Pierre L'Enfant himself.
Once inside, we'll focus on the Portrait Gallery first, one of the most important collections of American art in the country. We'll look at both the art as art—including a discussion of aesthetic trends, the role of art in America, and such key artists as Houdon, Charles Wilson Peale, and Gilbert Stuart—and also the historical ideas, moments, and events that they portray. Equal part history and art history lesson, our attempt will be to explore the true nature of portraiture as public biography.
The second half of our walk will look at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), which adjoins the Portrait Gallery. SAAM is the oldest federal collection of art in Washington, and one of its most diverse. Spanning three centuries, the galleries contain major works by signature 18th century artists Copely and Stuart; 19th century movements like the the Hudson River School; and a diversity of 20th century works by Hopper, Wyeth, and others. Having the laid the groundwork for a discussion of the role of art in American, we'll use these galleries to go deeper into any of the topics that have interested the group along the way.
