About this Event
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the National Portrait Gallery will present the 2026 Edgar P. Richardson Symposium, titled “Revolutionary Rivals: Portraits from the Global Theater of War.” Presentations by subject matter experts will enrich our understanding of the global context of the American Revolution. Speakers will highlight the interchange of individuals across the Atlantic—both foreign nationals who joined colonial forces in fighting the British, and Americans who wielded their influence abroad.
The Edgar P. Richardson Symposium will be presented in person at the National Portrait Gallery and streamed live via Zoom. Please register to receive the Zoom link. Recordings will be available on the National Portrait Gallery's YouTube channel following the symposium.
The Portrait Gallery strives to provide programs that are accessible to all visitors. If you have questions about the accessibility of this program, or if you would like to request real-time captioning (CART), sign language interpretation, or any other accommodations, please contact Vanessa Jones at [email protected]. Two weeks advance notice is appreciated for requesting accommodations.
The Edgar P. Richardson Symposium is generously supported by the Edgar P. Richardson Fund.
Portraits of Patience Lovell Wright, Bernardo de Gálvez, and Henry Laurens. Installation image courtesy of Mark Gulezian.
Agenda
🕑: 09:30 AM
Coffee & Light Refreshments
🕑: 10:00 AM
Introductory Remarks
Host: Taína Caragol, Senior Curator of Painting and Sculpture
🕑: 10:30 AM
"The American Revolution" Screening
Info: Enjoy a thematic selection of clips from the 2025 documentary series directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.
🕑: 11:00 AM
Beyond the Box: Small World, Big Perspective
Host: Steven Pickman, Objects Conservator
Info: A presentation on the conservation of Barlett Frost’s Declaration of Independence Diorama, on view in the Portrait Gallery's exhibition "Out of Many, Portraits From 1600 to 1900."
🕑: 11:45 AM
Lunch & Gallery Viewing
Info: Participants will have the opportunity to view the exhibition "Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900" at their own pace.
🕑: 01:00 PM
Rediscovering Lafayette’s War of Art, 1779-1780
Host: Mark A. Turdo, Independent Historian
🕑: 01:30 PM
Bernardo de Gálvez and the Support of Spain for the American Revolution
Host: José Manuel Guerrero Acosta, Director,Unveiling Memories
🕑: 02:00 PM
Q&A with Mark A. Turdo and José Manuel Guerrero Acosta
🕑: 02:15 PM
Break
🕑: 02:30 PM
Keynote Presentation: The Painter's Fire
Host: Zara Anishanslin, Professor of History and Art History
Info: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution
🕑: 03:30 PM
Gallery Viewing
Info: Participants may view "Out of Many, Portraits from 1600 to 1900" and ask questions to curators and historians.
Event venue & nearby stays
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 800 G Street Northwest, Washington, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.