Portrait of Catherine de Visme Browne
When Henry Francis du Pont purchased this portrait and installed it prominently in Montmorenci Stair Hall, it was identified simply as an “American Empire Portrait.” Yet it is not a mere likeness. This portrait of Catherine de Visme Browne by Ezra Ames depicts a young woman of great intellect, beauty, and ability, and also presents an embodiment of taste and moral character within the cultural aspirations of the nation. It offers an authoritative statement—first for the Browne family and later for du Pont—about cultural refinement and aspiration, as expressed through material depictions. The talk is presented by Kayleigh Danowski, Lois F. McNeil Fellow, Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. Registration required. Free.