Artwork from College’s collections assist illustrate new Ken Burns documentary · News · Lafayette College

In any venture in regards to the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette performs a major half. And now, because of its intensive assortment of artworks depicting its namesake, Lafayette College shares its historic bounties for a a lot anticipated movie.

A soon-to-be launched documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt chronicling the American Revolution consists of paintings from the Lafayette College assortment that depicts central figures from the interval such because the Marquis. Attendees will get the possibility to see an unique preview of The American Revolution, hosted by Lafayette in partnership with Lehigh Valley 250 and PBS39, on Oct. 23.

The ticketed event, which additionally consists of a panel dialogue, begins at 6:30 p.m. within the Williams Center for the Arts theater. 

Lafayette College supplied quite a few photos from the Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings and Special Collections in the course of the analysis for the movie. Three artworks had been chosen by Burns’ Florentine Films manufacturing firm to be used in its 12-hour documentary about America’s eight-year conflict for independence, which premieres Nov. 16 on PBS and airs over six consecutive nights.

“We were happy to provide two oil paintings and an engraving from our Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings and Special Collections at Skillman Library for this much-anticipated film,” says Rico Reyes, director of artwork galleries and curator of collections. 

“We have a rich repository of 19th- and 20th-century portraits, history paintings, and sculpture that chronicles American democracy and experiences,” he provides, noting that Lafayette’s contribution to this movie will add depth and context to the storytelling. 

“As we mark the College’s Bicentennial and honor our namesake, it’s fitting that two of the artworks provided for the documentary depict George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette,” Reyes notes. “One is at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, seen in the etching by H.B. Hall & Sons, and one at the end, in the painting by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe.” 

“We are incredibly grateful to Lafayette College for allowing us to feature art from their wonderful collection in our film, The American Revolution,” says Salimah El-Amin, a producer on the collection. “The artwork we licensed — and particularly the paintings of Percy Moran and Jennie Augusta Brownscombe — helped us showcase the deep significance of the alliance with France to winning the Revolutionary War.”

Artwork supplied for The American Revolution documentary 

Washington Greeting Lafayette at Mount Vernon, 1784, 1875, an oil on canvas by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe (1850-1936), from the Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings.

The Arrival of the Comte de Rochambeau at Newport, R.I, July 10, 1780, circa 1911, an oil on canvas by Edward Percy Moran (1862-1935), from the Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings.

Washington, La Fayette & Greene, an engraving by H.B. Hall & Sons, a famend New York-based agency of engravers established in 1850, from Special Collections at Skillman Library.

President Nicole Hurd, Jessica Edris, venture chief for Lehigh Valley 250, and Hasanna Birdsong, president and CEO of PBS39/Lehigh Valley Public Media, will open this system with welcoming remarks.

The screening of “Voices & Visions” will present a normal overview of the documentary and embrace chosen excerpts that includes artwork, music, and literature from the Revolutionary War period.

Following the screening, Edris will reasonable a panel dialogue with Reyes, Drew Swedberg, adjunct teacher of film and media studies, and Chris Philipps, professor of English.

Before and after the screening, attendees could have a possibility to view Facing Lafayette: Man, Image, Myth in Williams Center Gallery, one of many College’s Bicentennial exhibitions. Curated with college students Peter Godziela ’25 and Lillian Sampson ’27, this exhibition showcases the Marquis de Lafayette’s life in work, sculptures, and prints in a contemporary narrative that reexamines his story and the myths surrounding him.