Art, Landscape, and Heritage: Winterthur and the Brandywine Valley
EVENTS > SYMPOSIA
SPRING SYMPOSIUM
April 23–27, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 6:00 pm–8:30 pm
Welcoming Remarks and Opening Program at Hotel Du Pont
The Jonathan L. Fairbanks Lecture
A Notable Legacy: Houses and Gardens of the du Ponts Jeff Groff, Winterthur Estate Historian, retired
Following our opening lecture, join us for a welcome reception in the opulent Du Barry room, a fitting introduction to the grandeur and hospitality that await us in the Brandywine Valley.
Sponsored by:
Friday, April 25, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Welcoming remarks
Chris Strand, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Charles F. Montgomery Director and CEO
Inspiration and Expansion: The Evolution of Collecting at Winterthur
Alexandra Deutsch, Director of Winterthur Collections
Tea Tables and Glitter: Research at Winterthur, 1951-2025
Catharine Dann Roeber, PhD, Director of Academic Affairs
We devote the full day to the crown jewel of American decorative arts museums at Winterthur, a 175-room mansion and expansive botanical garden located in the heart of the Brandywine Valley. After a hearty welcome and illuminating lectures, we embark on an immersive exploration of Winterthur’s unparalleled collections. The estate was once the home of Henry Francis du Pont, a devoted collector of early American decorative and fine arts. He spent decades amassing the extraordinary holdings that fill his grand country estate. In 1951, Winterthur was transformed into an acclaimed museum and remains a monument to the du Pont family’s deep roots in the Brandywine Valley and an important cultural institution celebrating the nation’s rich artistic heritage. We enjoy a series of experiences specially tailored to the Trust: a focused tour of the house; a hands-on object study session highlighting rare examples of early American and imported ceramics; and a behind-the-scenes look at Winterthur’s renowned library, home to a wealth of rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials related to American decorative arts. After lunch surrounded by Winterthur’s picturesque gardens, we continue our rotations, ensuring each participant experiences the full breadth of Winterthur’s offerings.
Saturday, April 26, 8:30 am–5:00 pm
To maximize our time exploring the region’s range of extraordinary riches, this day is devoted to tours of four essential stops in northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania. We begin at the Brandywine Museum of Art, home to an outstanding collection of American paintings, with a special emphasis on the Wyeth family, renowned for their artistic contributions to the Brandywine Valley. The patriarch, N.C. Wyeth, was a celebrated illustrator and painter, who mentored his son, Andrew Wyeth, one of the most famous American realist painters of the 20th century. Andrew’s distinctive tempera paintings, many of which depicted the rural landscapes and people of the Brandywine region, earned him widespread critical acclaim. The family’s artistic legacy continued with Andrew’s son, Jamie Wyeth, who is also an accomplished painter, known for his portraits and depictions of the rugged Brandywine countryside.
We also journey to Longwood Gardens, where we are treated to a guided tour that encompasses the history of Pierre S. du Pont’s legacy in the horticultural marvels of this world-renowned garden. From the recently revamped Conservatory’s lush displays to the engineering marvel of the Main Fountain Garden, we gain insight into du Pont’s vision and Longwood’s continued evolution.
After lunch amid the garden’s scenic beauty, we visit two more du Pont family treasures. At Nemours, we explore a Louis XVI-style chateau built by Alfred I. du Pont, boasting the largest formal French-inspired gardens in North America. We tour the 77-room mansion, admiring the fine collection of 18th-century French furniture and art.
At Hagley Museum and Library, situated on the site of the du Pont family’s original powder mills, we gain a unique perspective on American industry and invention as we explore the restored mills, workers’ community, gardens, and the ancestral home of the du Ponts, last occupied by Louise du Pont Crowningshield, older sister of Winterthur’s founder, and containing important decorative arts acquired by many generations of family members.
Sunday, April 27, 8:45 am–11:00 am
John A.H. Sweeney Emerging Scholar Lecture
Looms for Technical Education at the Philadelphia Textile School, 1880–1910
Anastatia Spicer, Louis F. McNeil Fellow, Winterthur Program in American Material Culture, University of Delaware
Bridging Asian-America: Export Art from Canton to the United States
Tammy Hong, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Paper Conservation, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Recognizing and Preserving the Lesser-Known Architectures of Delaware’s Country House Landscapes
Catherine Morrissey, Associate Director, Center for Historic Architecture and Design
From Firebacks to Cannons: Iron, Liberty, and Unfreedom in the Early Republic
Jennifer Van Horn, PhD, Professor of Art and Art History, University of Delaware
Symposium concludes
Friday, April 25, 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Decorative Arts Trust members at the Sponsor level and above will receive an invitation to this special reception. The Trust is pleased to have this opportunity to express our gratitude for the generous support of our members!
We will share details soon about an evening of connoisseurship and conviviality to support to the Trust’s efforts to encourage the next generation of curators and academics through a growing series of grants and scholarships. In 2025, more than 50 graduate students and young professionals will benefit from the Trust’s Emerging Scholars Program.
New Castle: Delaware’s Colonial Charm
Wednesday, April 23, 9:00 am–4:00 pm
Step back in time as we explore New Castle, one of the most important historic villages in America. Our day begins at the Amstel House, a magnificent Georgian mansion built in 1738 by the wealthy landowner Dr. John Finney. This early house, with its sophisticated architecture and distinctive pattern of glazed header bricks, showcases the prosperity of colonial New Castle. Inside, the stark interior highlights original woodwork and period collections throughout, transporting visitors to the 18th century. Afterwards, an expert guide leads an architectural walking tour through New Castle’s National Historic Landmark District. We discover perfectly preserved examples of architecture spanning three centuries. After lunch, we visit New Castle’s Read House & Gardens. Built between 1797 and 1804 for George Read II, son of a Delaware signer of the Declaration of Independence, this 22-room mansion represents the height of Neoclassical design, featuring magnificent Delaware waterfront views, spectacular carved woodwork, and original furnishings that exemplify the finest American craftsmanship of the era. Our day concludes with an exclusive visit to a private historic home, where we examine an exceptional collection of Bermudan furniture. This intimate gathering offers a chance to discuss the day’s discoveries and appreciate how New Castle’s well-preserved architecture and material culture illuminate centuries of American history.
West Chester: Early Pennsylvania Artistry
Thursday, April 24, 9:00 am–4:00 pm
In historic West Chester, the gem of Chester County that beautifully preserves its 18th- and 19th-century heritage, our journey begins at the Chester County Historical Society, where we discover an extraordinary collection of material culture spanning three centuries of local history. We marvel at intricate quilts, furniture, and one of the nation’s finest collections of Pennsylvania- made tall-case clocks. After immersing ourselves in the museum’s treasures, we embark on a walking tour that highlights the Greek Revival Old Chester County Courthouse showcasing the early work of Thomas U. Walter, who would later achieve national fame as the architect of the U.S. Capitol Dome. Just steps away, the eight-story Farmers and Mechanics Building made history in 1908 as southeastern Pennsylvania’s first skyscraper outside Philadelphia. The ornate 1888 First West Chester Fire Company building, with its distinctive Victorian architecture and brick detailing, is a testament to T. Roney Williamson’s architectural vision. After refreshing ourselves with lunch, we continue our exploration of Chester County’s material culture at HL Chalfant Antiques, featuring some of the finest examples of early decorative arts from the region, and 19th-century samplers from the collection of the historic Westtown School which represent a significant collection of early American needlework artistry.
Odessa and Cooch House: Hidden Gems of the First State
Sunday, April 27, 11:30 am–7:30 pm
Following a hearty lunch in downtown Wilmington, our post-Symposium adventure takes us to two fascinating sites in Delaware. In Odessa, once a busy grain shipping port, we explore three beautifully preserved historic houses. The Corbit-Sharp House, a superb Georgian residence, is filled with an outstanding collection of 18th-century Delaware furniture and decorative arts. The Neoclassical Wilson-Warner House, showcases the evolution of architectural styles and decorative tastes in the region. The Collins-Sharp House, a humble yeoman’s dwelling, offers insight into everyday 18th-century life. Located on the western reaches of the Christiana River, the mid-18th-century Cooch House, played a pivotal role in the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Delaware. We tour both the beautifully restored interior and the historic landscape, gaining a comprehensive understanding of this important site that is not yet open to the public. We then close our time in the grandeur of the beautiful Brandywine Valley with an intimate farewell reception held at the historic Rockwood Park and Museum. As the sun begins to set, we admire the estate’s Victorian charm, including the meticulously maintained gardens in the golden light of day’s end.
Special Room Rates: A block of rooms is reserved for April 22–27, 2025, for $269 per night. These rooms are available on a first-come first-served basis until March 22 at 5:00 pm. Please make your reservations as soon as possible by calling 800.441.9019 or booking online via decorativeartstrust.org/hoteldupont. If you are attending the Pre-Symposium or Post-Symposium Optional Tours, please reserve a room for the duration of your stay in the Brandywine Valley, which will be for the full dates above.
Registration fee: $1,250 per person, which includes all lectures, tours, meals, receptions, and transportation referenced as well as a $50 tax- deductible donation to the Dewey Lee Curtis Scholarship Fund to underwrite symposium scholarships (see below). Participants may elect to make an additional donation through registration.
Nonprofit Professional fee: $600 per person. The Trust also awards at least two Dewey Lee Curtis Symposium Scholarships for graduate students or young professionals. Applications are due by February 24, 2025.
Optional programs: The Pre-Symposium Optional Tours are $350 per person per tour. The Post-Symposium Optional Tour is $375 per person. All fees include transportation, admission, and food and beverage as referenced in the brochure. Registration for optional programs is limited.
Membership: All participants must be members of the Decorative Arts Trust. Visit decorativeartstrust.org/join for membership levels and benefits. Members at the Sponsor level and above are invited to a special event on the evening of Friday, April 25.
Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations received by February 14, 2025, are subject to a full refund less a $100 administrative fee per person. Participants canceling between February 15 and March 14, 2025, will receive a 50% refund. Refunds will not be made after March 14, 2025.
Itinerary: The schedule, sites, and events outlined in this itinerary are subject to change as necessary.
Participation: The program is limited to a maximum of 75 members. We organize and maintain waitlists. The Trust’s Symposium itineraries are planned with care and attention to detail to ensure a memorable and rewarding experience for all participants. This itinerary includes standing for long periods of time, walking on uneven surfaces, and ascending and descending stairs without handrails. Please consider if this program is suited for your health, physical condition, and individual circumstances.