Unknown Sitters Exhibition
The Historic New Orleans Collection has a new exhibition that will be coming out soon called Unknown Sitters. Opening on April 5, 2024, the Unknown Sitters exhibition will feature portraits, courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection's pieces, of unidentified people in the records. Due to various reasons, their identities were lost and never found.
Regardless of the sitters being unknown, the works of art have so much history that has to be shared. Each portrait allows the viewers to craft a story about the sitters based on their clothing, surroundings, and biographies of the artists. The portraits show the diversity in New Orleans culture and art history.
Portraits that the exhibition will feature include women of different ages and races, as well as men. When looking at the portraits, it's important to note that women and people of color's portraits were most likely to go unnamed and lose their identities, rather than a white male. With their identities washed away, there is a sense of mystery behind these portraits. It is up to the viewers to imagine the lives these individuals may have lived.
The exhibition will be held at The Historic New Orleans Collection's Tricentennial Wing, first floor, on 520 Royal St. Unknown Sitters will be available for viewing from April 5 to October 6, 2024. You can view it Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This event is free, but requires a ticket for admission.
The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) was founded in 1966 by General L. Kemper Williams and Mrs. Leila Moore Williams. It is a museum, research center, and publisher that focuses on the heritage of New Orleans and the Southern region. THNOC contains impressive amounts of books, periodicals, articles, and exhibitions that focus on history. Admissions are free, so there's no reason why you shouldn't stop by if you are wondering around the French Quarter. If you are into museums, here's a list of more museums to check out around New Orleans.
