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Americana in All Its Glory!

By Bernice S. Kopelman



To celebrate DuPont’s 200th and Winterthur’s 50th anniversary, The National Gallery of Art in our nation’s capital, will be the 2002 venue for An American Vision Henry Francis DuPont’s Winterthur Museum from May 5th to Oct. 6th, 2002.

On tour for the first time, this stunning array of riches comes to D.C. at a most propitious time--when all Americans focus on our glorious past and how it has evolved. Those of you with an interest in Americana decorative art will have a unique opportunity to visit this installation which showcases upwards of 300 masterpieces from Winterthur (only a minuscule part of the 85,000 objects displayed or stored for future exhibits at the Delaware museum property): furniture, textiles, paintings, ceramics, glass and metalwork, all of which represent the rarest and renowned examples of early decorative arts made or used in America between 1640 and 1860. America’s past and its esthetic genius were a life-long passion of H.F. DuPont, whose cultured eye and impeccable taste elevated him to be the preeminent arbiter of American antiques shaping the world of collecting and decorating throughout the 20th century.

The exhibition focuses on major style periods that punctuate H.F. DuPont’s accomplishments as a collector, showing for example, the Oriental influence on English, French and American hard and soft goods as well as European, Asian and English sources of inspiration, while highlighting many uniquely American treasures.

Though Winterthur is virtually in our backyard at Exit 7B on I-95, Wilmington, Delaware, what better way to venerate our nation’s capital then a delightful drive or a scenic Amtrak ride down and spending an extended Spring weekend “gallery hopping” from this exhibit to several other high profile exhibitions due at The National Gallery of Art:

• The Flowering of Florence;Botanical Art for the Medici: March 3-May 27, 2002.
• Goya: Images of Women: March 10-June 2, 2002.
• Illusions and Deceptions; Five Centuries of Trompe L’Oeil Painting in Europe and America: October 13-March 2, 2003.
• Edouard Vuillard: January 19-April 20, 2003.
• Thomas Gainsborough: February 9-May 11, 2003.

If you time it right, you’ll be able to pop in out of the Smithsonian Museums that line the National Mall, many of particular interest to children. They all feature great gift shops, good restaurants, and since D.C.’s Metro System is one of the cleanest, fastest and least expensive, it will be a great way to get around our nation’s capital. Many hotels will be in a rate-cutting mode so great packages are sure to be available, even though our nation’s capital is the “most visited city” in the U.S.A.

Several stylish boutique category hotels new to the D.C. scene include the eclectic, ultra-friendly Topaz & Hotel Rouge. Centrally located to
extensive dining, shopping and sightseeing options, you’d be hard pressed to find a quieter, friendlier “oasis” to return to at days end. (202-393-3000)

As hotels go though, check out The Four Seasons D.C. in Georgetown, famous for its incomparable service and special attention to children of all ages. (800-332-3442) Things have evolved and are very much back to normal in D.C., so set your trepidations aside and “come on down”, because you’re always welcome!

• Smithsonian Museums: Daily: 10-5. Sunday: 11-6. Free admission
• National Gallery of Art: 202-737-4215
• Delaware Tourism: Free travel kit: 866-2-VISIT-DE

Also, debuting at the Corcoran Gallery of Art,
April 6-September 30, 2002, is the exciting N.Y. Metropolitan Museum of Art installation of Jacqueline Kennedy--The White House Years. (202-639-1700)

A few relevant quotes by Henry Francis DuPont:
Hundreds of thousands of Americans, now as never before, are actively exploring their heritage; reading history, studying collections of Americana, visiting historic shrines.

The story of Winterthur tells the greatest story of our time--the story of the American people.

It seems to be that early American Arts & Crafts have not been given the recognition they deserved and by preserving under one roof examples of architecture, furniture and widely divergent early American materials, interest would be stimulated and that magnificent contributions of our past would come into their own.

Bernice S. Kopelman is a travel correspondent residing in Newtown, PA. 215-504-2136, or, E-mail: bbskbsk@aol.com.