The Serious and The Smirk: Portraits from the Permanent Collection

Opening Reception: May 31, 2:00 p.m.

Portraits have a long history in our young country in establishing class and power by documenting the existence of political and industry leaders and their progeny. Today the ubiquitous “selfie” has shattered the barrier between the “haves” and the “have nots” by making the portrait the property of all.

Drawn from the Museum’s expansive portrait collection spanning the 18th to the 21st century and encompassing a wide variety of media from pencil sketches, pen and ink, oil, pastel, watercolor, and photography to sculpture in a variety of media, director Robert Burns will explore the role of portraiture in American art and the impact of the form in modern life. This exhibition will showcase some of the Waterbury region’s most notable residents with portraits of members from the Whittemore, Chase, Scovill, Prichard, Elton and Welton families, American presidents Washington and Lincoln, as well as “everyday” people. Artists include John Trumbull, J. Alden Weir, George Lawrence Nelson and Kay Sage as well as other less-know but very talented artists.

For more information, visit http://www.mattatuckmuseum.org.