Adrienne Wyman at the National Gallery of Art
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In this series of artist-led tours and talks, Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts painting instructor Adrienne Wyman gives a “behind-the-easel” perspective on American artists and collectors exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Freer Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery, and the National Gallery of Art.
Perfect for practicing artists, art lovers, and anyone who would like to learn more about art from the viewpoint of a working artist with a vast knowledge of historical painting techniques. If you’ve ever looked at a painting and wondered “how did they do that?” these are the tours for you.
Tours of “must-see” masterpieces at the museums focus on placing the works in historical and social context, sharing anecdotes about the artists’ personal lives, and demystifying the techniques and materials used to create the work of art.
The first class meets at the F street entrance to the American Art Museum.
Oct. 7 National Visions at the American Art Museum
The nation’s first American art collection comprises more than 300 years of art.
Travel through styles from colonial portraiture and 19th-century landscapes, to American impressionism and 20th-century realism and abstraction. Artists examined include Charles Wilson Peale and John Singleton Copley; Albert Bierstadt, George Caitlin, and Thomas Moran; Cecelia Beaux, Winslow Homer and William Merritt Chase; Edwin Hopper and Andrew Wyeth; and Georgia O'Keefe and Willem de Kooning.
Oct. 14 America Meets Asia at the Freer
Explore the collection of American and Asian art of collector Charles Lange Freer. The museum boasts one of the largest groups of works by James McNeil Whistler, including his renowned Peacock Room. Learn the scandalous backstory of both its colorful artist and its design scheme. Other late-19th century and early-20th-century American artists covered are Thomas Dewing and Abbott Thayer.
Oct. 21 Presidents and Celebrities at the Portrait Gallery
View Thomas Sully's famous portraits of George Washington, LL Cool J and President Barack Obama as seen by modern master Kehinde Wiley, Andy Warhol's portrait of Michael Jackson, and Nelson Shank's depiction of four female Supreme Court justices.
Oct. 28 American Artists in the National Gallery
Without established art academies in young America, artists traveled to Europe to improve their craft and make vital connections. Explore the works of significant artists including John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, John Singleton Copley, Benjamin West, and Thomas Cole.
4 sessions; 1.5 hours each
World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit*
*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1/2 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.
