If the pandemic has you safely tucked in at home you can visit The Smithsonian American Art Museum from the comfort of your couch as we explore works by American artists in SAAMs collection as well as other international works on loan for this special exhibition: Alexander Von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature, and Culture.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s current exhibition reveals how Prussian naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) shaped American perceptions of nature and the way American cultural identity became grounded in our relationship with the environment. Humboldt was one of the most influential figures of the nineteenth century. And although he spent only 6 weeks in the United States his ideas continue to influence artists writers and politicians into the 21st century. On September 14, 1869, the centennial of Alexander von Humboldt’s birth was celebrated worldwide. In Pittsburgh President Ulysses Grant attended the celebrations together with 10,000 revelers who brought the city to a standstill, and there wasn’t a terrible towel in sight! Come and learn about the most famous man you may never have heard of!
This 90 minute lecture will be presented by:
LeeAnn Lawch has been a docent at the Smithsonian American Art Museum since 2009. In addition to leading gallery tours, she offers outreach programs such as this one and participates in SAAM’s distance learning program, reaching schools, adult education organizations and inquisitive groups of all ages both domestically and internationally.
