A Closer Look: European Costume + Textiles at the Legion of Honor

Ornate, colorful fan with 17th-century idyllic landscape with figures

Shepherd and Shepherdess fan and case, 1750–1760. Costume paper, mother-of-pearl, glass jewel, copper alloy rivet; opaque watercolor, watercolor, gold paint, and gold paper trim, carved and incised sticks and guards with applied silver gilt and gold foil, rivet, 11 in. (27.9 cm). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, gift of Mrs. Reginald Rives, 1978.10.18a-b

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Since its inception in the early 20th century, the Legion of Honor has been a site for the preservation of European costumes and textiles, ranging from tapestries and silk furnishing textiles to women’s costumes and accessories. This lecture will explore how these early collections developed, along with their continued importance within our global costume and textile arts holdings.

Livestream link coming soon.

About the curator

Laura L. Camerlengo is curator in charge of costume and textile arts, and curator of the exhibition Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style. Since 2010, she has organized, co-organized, and presented numerous costume and textiles exhibitions for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a focus on sharing the stories of women and artists of color. Her publications include The Miser’s Purse (2013), Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love (co-authored with Dilys E. Blum, 2021), and Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style (2024).

About the “A Closer Look” series

This program is part of our “A Closer Look” series, a new curatorial lecture series exploring both the development of the Museums’ distinct collections and their art historical significance. Beginning at the Legion of Honor and expanding to the de Young soon, the series features in-depth presentations that highlight collection gems while demystifying creative practices that span thousands of years. 

Ticket info

Free program. First come, first served. Seating is limited and unassigned. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of the program. 

Contact info

Public Programs
publicprograms@famsf.org
415.750.7694

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