Americans in Paris: John Singer Sargent and the Daughters of Edward D. Boit

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Past Event ....... November 6^th, 2011 — 2:00 p.m.

Dr. Erica Hirshler, Croll Senior Curator of American Paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will be presenting an illustrated lecture entitled “Americans in Paris: John Singer Sargent and the Daughters of Edward D. Boit” in the Library’s Callahan Hall on Sunday, Nov 6 at 2:00 p.m.

The lecture event is free and open to the public. Prior to the lecture, at 1:30 p.m., the Friends of the Lewiston Public Library will be holding a short annual business meeting which is also open to all.

The talk will focus on John Singer Sargent’s painting entitled The Daughters of Edward D. Boit,” a masterpiece depicting four young girls in a shadowy interior that has haunted viewers since the painting was unveiled in Paris in December 1882. Some early critics were baffled by it, while others praised its modernity. Novelist Henry James described it as the “happy play-world of a family of charming children,” but today’s audiences often find the scene a penetrating essay on the psychology of childhood.

The illustrated lecture topic is also the subject of Dr. Hirshler’s recent and highly-praised book, Sargent’s Daughters: The Biography of a Painting. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing following the talk.

Dr. Erica Hirshler is the daughter of Lewiston resident, Dr. Eric Hirshler and the late Marilyn Nair Hirshler. Eric is currently the vice-president of the Friends of LPL.

For more information on this event, contact the Library’s Adult Services Department at 513-3135 or LPLReference@LewistonMaine.gov

Posted: Sunday, September 25th, 2011 in none