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Adélaïde Labille‑Guiard French, 1749 ‑ 1803 Portrait of Madame Adélaïde, about 1787 Oil on canvas 107 3/4 × 73 3/4 in. (273.7 × 187.3 cm.) Gift of Mrs. Berry V. Stoll Restored by income from the Marguerite Montgomery Baquie Memorial Trust, 1993, with additional support from The National Endowment for the Arts 1982.21
The Speed Collects: Empires to Revolutions, 1700 – 1825
Satterwhite Gallery
Opened August 19, 2022
Art history reminds us that we have experienced deep, necessary shifts in national and global consciousness before, often resulting in new ways of thinking and living. This installation reframes the collection of 18th and early 19th century European and American artwork in the Speed’s permanent collection through the lens of social, cultural, economic, and political upheaval and change.
Many of the positive values that permeate Western society today – democracy, modern scientific methods, belief in the importance of education, and the centrality of the family – were championed during this time period, now known as the Age of Enlightenment. Enlightenment proponents believed that knowledge could overcome ignorance and blind adherence to outmoded ideas, thus leading to progress. However, 250 years later, it is important to acknowledge the paradox of Enlightenment thinking and its influence on the modern world. That these radical ideas of freedom and individual rights also found their roots in nations that built wealth through colonial domination, extermination of native populations, and human bondage is a terrible paradox that has shaped our modern society. Contextualizing our shared history through artwork can help us see where we’ve been, and where we need to go.