Event – Detail

In 1824–1825, the return of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette to the United States sparked an extraordinary wave of civic celebration. In Philadelphia, this visit was marked by the construction of ephemeral triumphal arches, monuments, and ceremonial spaces that transformed the city into a stage of national memory.

This talk explores how these temporary architectural interventions, rooted in European traditions of festival and spectacle, were adapted in the American context to express gratitude, identity, and political ideals. Drawing on visual and archival sources, Patrick Coué examines how Philadelphia’s urban fabric became a site of performance, where history, mythology, and civic pride converged.

By focusing on these fleeting yet powerful structures, Arches of Memory reveals how cities construct and reconstruct their historical narratives, and how public space can be mobilized to shape collective memory in moments of national significance.

The program will be followed by a reception with light refreshments.

Patrick Coué is an art historian, educator, and cultural guide whose work bridges scholarship and public engagement. He pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in Art History in both France and the United States, developing a transatlantic perspective on artistic production, cultural exchange, and the evolution of the art market. For nearly two decades, he taught art history and visual culture at the Art Institute of Philadelphia He was a contributor and advisory committee member of Artblog and is now involved with The Philly Occasional, an independent publication covering the arts in and around Philadelphia. Coué offers cultural and historical tours of Philadelphia, bringing the city’s layered past to life through its architecture, public spaces, and artistic heritage. Deeply committed to making cultural history accessible, he combines academic insight with a storyteller’s sensibility, engaging a wide range of audiences in the process.

Presented with the Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia, Consule Honoraire de France à Philadelphie, and Alliance Française de Philadelphie.

Member of CCAP or Alliance Française? Please register as "member."

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