“Classical Splendor” – A Special One-day Symposium

This special one-day symposium will explore the rise of Grecian taste in early-19th century America through the lens of the house and furnishings commissioned in 1807 by Philadelphians William and Mary Wilcocks Waln from the leading architect and artisans of the day. The program coincides with the upcoming exhibit Classical Splendor: Painted Furniture for a Grand Philadelphia House, co-curated by Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Art Alexandra Kirtley and Associate Conservator of Furniture and Woodwork Peggy Olley. Mrs. Kirtley is also a member of the Trust’s Board of Governors.

Speakers will include Kirtley, Olley, and two additional contributors to exhibition and catalogue, upholsterer Elizabeth Paolini and architectural historian Jeffrey Cohen of Bryn Mawr College. Outside scholars will help place the Waln’s house and furnishings in a broader American context. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the exhibition.

Introduced in 2015, these special-topic one-day symposia introduce Trust programming to a wider audience in a variety of geographic locations, and feature new research from an array of scholars and field professionals.