Art Historian and Alumna to Visit, Nov. 7-8

Allison M. Stagg

Visiting art historian and University of Mary Washington alumna Allison M. Stagg will present a public lecture entitled “James Akin: The First American Caricaturist,” on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. in Lee Hall, Room 411. The lecture is sponsored by the department of art and art history, with funding from the Wendy Shadwell ’63 Program Endowment in Art History.

Her talk will focus on American artist James Akin, who gained the title as the most notorious caricaturist of his time after he published a satirical caricature of President Thomas Jefferson criticizing his relationship with one of his slaves. His caricature, boldly entitled “A Philosophic Cock,” along with later caricature designs, went on to influence many of the popular caricaturists of the 19th century.

In addition, Stagg will present an informal overview of her career and answer questions during a group meeting held on Friday, Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Melchers Hall, Room 107.  All students and faculty are welcome to attend. Students who wish to meet individually with Stagg, can sign up at the department office (Melchers 217) on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, Charles Peirce Collection, The American Antiquarian Society. Worcester, MA

Stagg  has extensive museum experiences curating at prestigious museums such as the Metropolitan Museum and organizing exhibits at the National Portrait Gallery in London and the National Gallery in Washington. Her research on political caricature in the U.S. from 1780 to 1830 has resulted in extensive papers and articles, along with a forthcoming book “The Art of Wit: American Political Caricature.” Stagg has received numerous fellowships and grants from institutions such as the American Philosophical society, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Yale University.