Event – Detail

Drawing upon wide research, including previously unpublished archival material, Peter Conn brings to life the men and women who formed the history of early national Philadelphia in his new book Thomas Sully’s Philadelphians: Painting the Athens of America. Sully is widely regarded as perhaps the most important portrait painter of the antebellum years. Dr. Conn explores his portraits as visual documents of the people, institutions, and events that made Philadelphia, from the Revolution until the 1840s, both the most cosmopolitan and racially embattled city in America.

This program takes place in the 2nd floor Busch Room.

Dr. Peter Conn retired from the University of Pennsylvania as the Vartan Gregorian Professor of English and Professor of Education, as well as a member of the graduate groups in the history of art and American civilization, a member of the urban studies and Asian-American studies faculties and an affiliated member of the Center for East Asian Studies.  He is the author of numerous works on American literature and culture and has lent his expertise as a literary consultant on a host of television projects. From 2016 to 2019, Dr. Conn was the Executive Director of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

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