The Filson Historical Society holds some 400 portraits painted by a wide variety of artists in Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley, representing one of the most extensive holdings available for study in the region. Lessons in Likeness: Portrait Painters in Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley, 1802-1920 features an extensive selection of The Filson’s paintings, in addition to biographical notes on each artist and a cultural chronology. The result is a vivid portrayal of regional portraiture. The author, Estill Curtis Pennington, has been a student of painting in the South for the past thirty years. He has served in curatorial capacities for the Archives of American Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Morris Museum of Art.
These guided tours are designed to give insight and details on portraits in The Filson’s collection. The tours are limited in capacity, so reservations are necessary. Call The Filson for your reservation at (502) 635-5083.