The 2012 Samuel M. Nickerson Lecture Series

The Samuel M. Nickerson Lecture Series, which has a goal of fostering a wide appreciation for historic architecture and design, commences on March 22, 2012. Free to the public, these five lectures feature notable scholars who explore the nineteenth-century milieu in which Nickerson lived as well as the principles in art, design, and architecture that governed the creation of his remarkable mansion. This year’s roster contains a variety of subjects, from the legendary art collector Phoebe A. Hearst to the use of brass in highly decorative 1880s American interiors. The lectures are listed below, and descriptions of the lectures and speakers can be found on the Driehaus Museum Lectures page.

Thursday, March 22, 6 p.m.
Citizen Hearst: Phoebe Apperson Hearst and the Life Behind Her Library
Dr. Amy Lippert, Assistant Professor of History, University of Chicago

Thursday, April 19, 6 p.m.
Beauty, Money and Power: The Transformation of Taste in America’s Gilded Age
Ulysses Grant Dietz, Senior Curator and Curator of Decorative Arts, Newark Art Museum

Thursday, May 17, 6 p.m.
Innovation and Opulence: Stanford White and the Kingscote Dining Room
Caitlin Emery, Museum Programs Coordinator, the Preservation Society of Newport County

Thursday, September 20, 6 p.m.
The Gilded Progressive: Edith Wharton’s Literary and Autobiographical Designs
Dr. Caroline Hellman, Assistant Professor of English, New York City College of Technology

Thursday, October 18, 6 p.m.
Cranes, Dragons and Geishas: Metalwork of the Aesthetic Movement
Anna Tobin D’Ambrosio, Director and Chief Curator, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute

The Nickerson Lecture Series is always free to the public, but advance reservations are required. Make reservations online or call 312 482 8933, ext. 21.

Please note that as of January 31, “Citizen Hearst,” “Beauty, Money and Power,” and “Innovation and Opulence” had no spaces remaining. For additional ways to enjoy the museum—from lectures to a diverse array of concerts, performances, and more—visit the Driehaus Museum Programs page.

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