Learn to decipher American Revolution portraits in virtual lecture with Dover Public Library

posted on 6/15/2026

It wasn’t easy convincing George Washington to sit for a portrait, but when Gilbert Stuart finally convinced him in his last year of presidency, the artist had an important task on his hands: how do you depict the leader of a new nation? With hidden images of hope and references to the Roman Republic, of course!

Explore American portraits painted and sculpted during the years leading up to, and the decades after, the Revolution in the virtual lecture “Portraits of a Revolution” with Art Historian Inez McDermott. The program, in partnership with Tewksbury Public Library, takes place on Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. Register to receive a link to the livestream.

In the talk, McDermott will examine portraits of founding “fathers” and “mothers”, as well as of lesser-known individuals, showing how these artworks are documents that can be read like texts. She will show how the ideals, values, and virtues expressly stated in the founding documents are easily identifiable in these portraits. Audiences will be introduced to art analysis skills, practice them, and learn how artworks can reveal so much about a culture. They will also study the tradition of portraiture and the influences of earlier art movements, artists, and artifacts that informed these American portraits.

McDermott, Professor Emerita of art history at New England College, has been teaching art history and curating art and history exhibitions in New Hampshire since 1986. In her classes and research, she explores how art can contribute to social engagement, participatory democracy, and activism. Her specific research interests focus on historical and contemporary New Hampshire art and artists, with a particular focus on 19th-century photography.

For more information, visit the library’s website or call (603) 516-6050. The library will be reopening on Friday, June 26. From April 20 to June 22, library staff will be working to move back into the Carnegie building. During this time, the library will be located in Room 306 of the McConnell Center and hours will be limited to Monday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.