Temple of Kamakura from David King Jr.’s souvenir album from Japan, circa 1871
The Preservation Society is delighted to present an exciting lineup of events this spring! The Lifting the Curtain lecture series offers a rare glimpse into the hidden treasures of Gilded Age photography, showcasing seldom-seen gems from the archives. Additionally, The Newport Piccolo Simposio, a day-long symposium, will bring together leading fine and decorative arts experts to explore the profound influence of Italian art and design on Gilded Age Newport. Be sure to sign up in-person or online via Zoom today!
Winter Program Series: Lifting the Curtain
Newport through a New Lens: Treasures of Photography at the Preservation Society
March 27, 2025 at 6pm (EST)
In-person Tickets: $20 Non-Member Adult; $15 Member Adult
Zoom Tickets: $10 Non-Member Adult; $0 Member Adult
Join Dr. Nicole Williams, Preservation Society Curator of Collections for a fascinating lecture on The Preservation Society’s extraordinary archive of Gilded Age photographs. Encompassing portraits of celebrities and families, transporting foreign views, and images of Newport landmarks, Dr. Williams will explore how pioneering photographers pushed the limits of the medium, often blurring the line between truth and artifice, to cultivate intimacy, critique injustice and convey knowledge and power.
She will also explore how these photographs offer fresh insights into Newport’s iconic architecture and art collections. A standout piece in the archive is an early photograph of Japan from an album purchased by Newporter David King Jr. (1839–1894) at the Yokohama studio of the trailblazing photographer Felice Beato. King’s firsthand experience in Japan likely influenced his decision to commission McKim, Mead & White to design Kingscote’s dining room in the 1880s, incorporating elegant Japanesque elements.
This lecture is available in-person and via Zoom. To learn more and register, click here.
The Breakers Great Hall, designed 1892 by Richard Morris Hunt
The Newport Piccolo Simposio: Italian Influence in Newport
April 3, 2025 from 8:30am–4pm (EST)
Zoom Tickets: $25
The Preservation Society is excited to bring back the Newport Symposium after a 5-year hiatus. Piccolo Simposio (Italian for “little symposium”) will be a daylong immersion into Italian art and design in Gilded Age Newport, and their continuing influence today. From Chateau-sur-Mer to The Elms to The Breakers and beyond, the Gilded Age elite were enamored with Italian or Italian-inspired architecture, interiors, landscapes and art. Join a panel of experts as they examine this many-faceted topic.
While in-person attendance for this program is sold out, you can join the waitlist by emailing [email protected] or secure your spot for the live online event by purchasing Zoom tickets today.
To learn more and register, click here.