Dec 29, 2016
End the year on an elegant note—visit Classical Splendor before Jan. 1.
seen from Germany
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seen from United States
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seen from United States
seen from United States
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seen from United States
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seen from Brazil
seen from United States
End the year on an elegant note—visit Classical Splendor before Jan. 1.
A behind-the-scenes look at Peggy Olley, conservator and co-curator of Classical Splendor, treating the surface of a chair. See the exhibition in person through Jan. 1.
"Classical Splendor" is gorgeous morning, noon, and night. On view through January 1.
Have you ever wondered how exhibitions are designed? Models like this helped the curators of “Classical Splendor” visualize the space and the objects within. (The ladies and dog were added for scale… and fun!) See how the show turned out.
After researching the original upholstery of the furniture in Classical Splendor, conservator Peggy Olley, Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts Alexandra Kirtley, and seamstress Elizabeth Paolini fashioned two possible options for what the original upholstery could have looked like. Come see the exhibition to decide which one you prefer.
This photo shows Montgomery-Garvan Curator Alexandra Kirtley, conservator Peggy Olley, and seamstress Elizabeth Paolini working together to choose a fabric color for the upholstery on the furniture featured in "Classical Splendor." Come see this exciting exhibition put together with “CSI”-like research before it closes on Jan. 1.
Love Classical Splendor? Join us on Friday, Nov. 4, for "Latrobe and Philadelphia: The Waln House and Furniture Revealed and Reconsidered." An exciting roster of speakers will share insights on Henry Latrobe's design for the Walns' house and furniture, outlining its profound impact on American classical architecture and furniture. A limited number of scholarships for this symposium are available to students—apply or register today.
The splendor of this classically inspired furniture actually represented a crisis in young America. As architect Henry Latrobe wrote in 1809, "we are jammed, between our republican principals, [and] our aristocratic wishes." Learn more in Classical Splendor, now on view.
Installation photograph of "Classical Splendor: Painted Furniture for a Grand Philadelphia House," on view in the Honickman and Berman Galleries through January 1.