The influential collectors Francis P. Garvan, B.A. 1897, and father-and-son Luther Kountze and de Lancey Kountze, B.A. 1899, celebrated aspects of American history—and their own patriotism—through the art and antiques they acquired.

Over two generations beginning in the 1880s, the Kountzes assembled sentimental relics associated with key figures in American history: Luther maintained a passion for George Washington, while de Lancey was drawn to the Marquis de Lafayette. Living with objects supposedly owned by these military heroes allowed the Kountzes to insert themselves into the legacy of the nation’s founding. Garvan began collecting around World War I, seeking out masterworks of early American craftsmanship as a form of cultural nationalism. Through supporting academic institutions, like Yale, he hoped that the art of the nation’s past might inspire future generations of students.

To explore what motivated these figures, join Erin E. Eisenbarth, Senior Lecturer, Mercy University, New York, and Catherine Whalen, Associate Professor, Bard Graduate Center, New York, for a presentation and moderated conversation that illuminates the intersections of art, personal passions, and public duty.

Generously sponsored by the Oswaldo Rodriguez Roque Lectureship Fund.