Second Empire: Art in France under Napoleon III, 1973-1979

On display in Philadelphia from October 1 to November 26, 1978, "The Second Empire" exhibition exemplified collaboration. Planned with the Musées de France and the Detroit Institute of Arts, it featured 372 objects coming from 137 lenders in Europe and the United States. A combination of objects--enamels, glass, wood, gilt, jewels, wallpaper, and textiles, as well as painting and sculpture--were used to convey the splendor of empire under France's last monarch. In addition to the Museum's curators of European Painting and Sculpture, and Decorative Arts after 1700, outside scholars contributed to the catalogue as well as to the selection of certain objects in the exhibition. Documentation consists of exhibition lists and loan request and papers pertaining to budgets, publicity, personnel, education, and other planning issues. Materials used in preparing the exhibition catalogue include draft manuscripts describing ceramics and glass, printer's proof, photograph lists, and biographies. Many of the records are in French, including drafts, correspondence, and planning documentation. The bulk of the files date from 1977-1978.