July 2024
Lunch Bite – A Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette Wearing the Society of the Cincinnati Eagle Insignia
The marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of the United States produced a staggering number of images of the general, from original oil portraits commissioned by government entities and wealthy individuals to prints mass produced for sale at public events. One of the lesser-known original works of art created during the tour is a watercolor portrait miniature of Lafayette painted by Charles Fraser during the general’s visit to Charleston, South Carolina, in March 1825. In the portrait Lafayette wears a distinctive…
Find out more »August 2024
Lecture—The Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolution
Having learned of the American war in the summer of 1775, the marquis de Lafayette responded to the rebels’ calls for republican principles inspired by ancient Rome, the opportunity to avenge France’s defeat by the British in the Seven Years’ War and the chance to further his military career. In December 1776, the young marquis formally pledged to join the American cause. After landing in South Carolina in June 1777, he made his way to Philadelphia to present himself to…
Find out more »September 2024
Lunch Bite—A Portrait of Andrew Wallace, the “Savior of Lafayette” at Brandywine?
Historical Programs Manager Andrew Outten discusses a portrait of Revolutionary War veteran Andrew Wallace, painted by John Neagle in 1831, and examines the validity of Wallace's claims to have aided Lafayette on the battlefield after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. This program accompanies our current exhibition, Fete Lafayette: A French Hero's Tour of the American Republic, on view through December 31, 2024. Registration is requested. To attend the author’s talk in-person at Anderson House, or to watch virtually,…
Find out more »October 2024
Lecture—The Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America’s National Capital Region
Against the backdrop of a tumultuous election, a beloved hero of the American Revolution returned to America for the first time in forty years. From August 1824 to September 1825, the marquis de Lafayette traveled through the United States, welcomed by thousands of admirers at each stop along the way. Although the tour brought him to each state in the Union, the majority of his time was spent in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Public historian Elizabeth Reese traces Lafayette's…
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