Philadelphia Portrait Miniatures, 1760-1860

Sponsored by Credit Suisse

The 2009 featured loan exhibit, Patriots and Presidents: Philadelphia Portrait Miniatures, 1760-1860, will chronicle more than a century of portrait miniatures, including those of Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia's most famous citizen, as well as former presidents and patriots. A collection of small, portable portraits depicting early Philadelphia's most prominent figures celebrates Philadelphia's history as the center of American government and commerce in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Ivory, oil on copper, and watercolor miniatures of early American presidents and historical figures will be displayed in an exceptional museum-quality exhibit. Curated by Philadelphia collectors of Americana Dr. Robert and Katharine Booth with the assistance of Exhibition Adviser Elle Shushan, the exhibit features objects loaned by prominent national museums, notable local institutions, and several private collectors.