Library Hour: Thomas Sully’s Philadelphians: Painting the Athens of America

Thomas Sully’s legacy at the Union League looms large with his gigantic equestrian portrait of George Washington at the top of the grand staircase in the League House. Beyond this painting of the first president, the purchase of which facilitated Sully’s admission as a League member, Sully is widely regarded as perhaps the most important portrait painter of the antebellum years. Sully’s portraits offer a window into early nineteenth-century Philadelphia, including individuals, institutions, professions, and contemporary events. Using these portraits, Professor Peter Conn reconstructs many of the people, institutions, and events that made Philadelphia, from the Revolution until the 1840s, one of the most cosmopolitan and most racially embattled cities in America.  Drawing upon wide research and previously unpublished archival material, Conn explores early Philadelphia’s education, politics, theater, medicine, journalism, commerce, philanthropy, religion, and the fierce debate over slavery.

Please note that the name of this event was changed from “Sully: Painting Washington & the Revolution” to “Thomas Sully’s Philadelphians: Painting the Athens of America.”

This program will be hosted in-person at the League House. Books will be sold at the reception. Registration is required.

Reception: 6:00pm
Program: 6:30pm
End of Program: 7:30pm

Streaming: Unless requested otherwise by the speaker, Founding Forward programs are streamed via YouTube. Click here to find the livestream (live at 6:30pm the day of the event). Virtual viewing does not require registration.