Member Events

Thu, Apr 25, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
I Hold in My Hand...Prestige, Rank, and Power
with Dr. Robin Poynor, Professor Emeritus, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida

Objects held in the hand can be seen as extensions of an individual’s presentation of self through dress.  From ancient times, Yoruba notables have performed roles in the cultural hierarchy through dress, not only donning sumptuous robes but manipulating handheld items to indicate position, alluding to their place within the chain of command. In this program, Dr. Robin Poynor will address twelve object types, including brass, ivory, iron, leather, horsetail, wood, and beadwork.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 9, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
The Emperor’s Horse: Establishing the True Provenance of a Sporting Art Masterpiece
with Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, will delve into the fascinating and complex history of Alfred Dedreux’s portrait of Napoleon III’s favorite horse, including his discovery that the iconic equine portrait had been stolen from a family of Jewish art dealers in Paris during the Nazi occupation. After exploring how The Emperor’s Horse encapsulates the pageantry of court life under France’s Second Empire, Dr. Cordier will relate the painting’s theft to the broader history of looted art with a behind-the-scenes look at the research methods and resources museums now use to identify stolen artworks and determine legitimate ownership.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 16, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Salvador Dalí: Les Chants de Maldoror Etchings
with Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  

Join VMFA’s Dr. Michael Taylor for a discussion of Salvador Dalí’s celebrated etchings for Les Chants de Maldoror (The Songs of Maldoror), a fantastical 1869 text written by Isidore Ducasse under the pen name of Le Comte de Lautréamont. In 1933 Dalí used his “paranoiac-critical method” to create personal visions drawn from his creative subconscious rather than illustrate Lautréamont’s text. The resulting 44 etchings, which make up a VMFA statewide traveling exhibition, represent the artist’s finest contributions to Surrealist printmaking.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, Apr 25, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
I Hold in My Hand...Prestige, Rank, and Power
with Dr. Robin Poynor, Professor Emeritus, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida

Objects held in the hand can be seen as extensions of an individual’s presentation of self through dress.  From ancient times, Yoruba notables have performed roles in the cultural hierarchy through dress, not only donning sumptuous robes but manipulating handheld items to indicate position, alluding to their place within the chain of command. In this program, Dr. Robin Poynor will address twelve object types, including brass, ivory, iron, leather, horsetail, wood, and beadwork.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 9, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
The Emperor’s Horse: Establishing the True Provenance of a Sporting Art Masterpiece
with Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, will delve into the fascinating and complex history of Alfred Dedreux’s portrait of Napoleon III’s favorite horse, including his discovery that the iconic equine portrait had been stolen from a family of Jewish art dealers in Paris during the Nazi occupation. After exploring how The Emperor’s Horse encapsulates the pageantry of court life under France’s Second Empire, Dr. Cordier will relate the painting’s theft to the broader history of looted art with a behind-the-scenes look at the research methods and resources museums now use to identify stolen artworks and determine legitimate ownership.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 16, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Salvador Dalí: Les Chants de Maldoror Etchings
with Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  

Join VMFA’s Dr. Michael Taylor for a discussion of Salvador Dalí’s celebrated etchings for Les Chants de Maldoror (The Songs of Maldoror), a fantastical 1869 text written by Isidore Ducasse under the pen name of Le Comte de Lautréamont. In 1933 Dalí used his “paranoiac-critical method” to create personal visions drawn from his creative subconscious rather than illustrate Lautréamont’s text. The resulting 44 etchings, which make up a VMFA statewide traveling exhibition, represent the artist’s finest contributions to Surrealist printmaking.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, Apr 25, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
I Hold in My Hand...Prestige, Rank, and Power
with Dr. Robin Poynor, Professor Emeritus, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida

Objects held in the hand can be seen as extensions of an individual’s presentation of self through dress.  From ancient times, Yoruba notables have performed roles in the cultural hierarchy through dress, not only donning sumptuous robes but manipulating handheld items to indicate position, alluding to their place within the chain of command. In this program, Dr. Robin Poynor will address twelve object types, including brass, ivory, iron, leather, horsetail, wood, and beadwork.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 9, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
The Emperor’s Horse: Establishing the True Provenance of a Sporting Art Masterpiece
with Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, will delve into the fascinating and complex history of Alfred Dedreux’s portrait of Napoleon III’s favorite horse, including his discovery that the iconic equine portrait had been stolen from a family of Jewish art dealers in Paris during the Nazi occupation. After exploring how The Emperor’s Horse encapsulates the pageantry of court life under France’s Second Empire, Dr. Cordier will relate the painting’s theft to the broader history of looted art with a behind-the-scenes look at the research methods and resources museums now use to identify stolen artworks and determine legitimate ownership.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 16, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Salvador Dalí: Les Chants de Maldoror Etchings
with Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  

Join VMFA’s Dr. Michael Taylor for a discussion of Salvador Dalí’s celebrated etchings for Les Chants de Maldoror (The Songs of Maldoror), a fantastical 1869 text written by Isidore Ducasse under the pen name of Le Comte de Lautréamont. In 1933 Dalí used his “paranoiac-critical method” to create personal visions drawn from his creative subconscious rather than illustrate Lautréamont’s text. The resulting 44 etchings, which make up a VMFA statewide traveling exhibition, represent the artist’s finest contributions to Surrealist printmaking.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, Apr 25, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
I Hold in My Hand...Prestige, Rank, and Power
with Dr. Robin Poynor, Professor Emeritus, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida

Objects held in the hand can be seen as extensions of an individual’s presentation of self through dress.  From ancient times, Yoruba notables have performed roles in the cultural hierarchy through dress, not only donning sumptuous robes but manipulating handheld items to indicate position, alluding to their place within the chain of command. In this program, Dr. Robin Poynor will address twelve object types, including brass, ivory, iron, leather, horsetail, wood, and beadwork.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 9, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
The Emperor’s Horse: Establishing the True Provenance of a Sporting Art Masterpiece
with Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, will delve into the fascinating and complex history of Alfred Dedreux’s portrait of Napoleon III’s favorite horse, including his discovery that the iconic equine portrait had been stolen from a family of Jewish art dealers in Paris during the Nazi occupation. After exploring how The Emperor’s Horse encapsulates the pageantry of court life under France’s Second Empire, Dr. Cordier will relate the painting’s theft to the broader history of looted art with a behind-the-scenes look at the research methods and resources museums now use to identify stolen artworks and determine legitimate ownership.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 16, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Salvador Dalí: Les Chants de Maldoror Etchings
with Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  

Join VMFA’s Dr. Michael Taylor for a discussion of Salvador Dalí’s celebrated etchings for Les Chants de Maldoror (The Songs of Maldoror), a fantastical 1869 text written by Isidore Ducasse under the pen name of Le Comte de Lautréamont. In 1933 Dalí used his “paranoiac-critical method” to create personal visions drawn from his creative subconscious rather than illustrate Lautréamont’s text. The resulting 44 etchings, which make up a VMFA statewide traveling exhibition, represent the artist’s finest contributions to Surrealist printmaking.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Tue, May 21
Talk | 6 pm |Reynolds Lecture Hall
Reception | 7 pm | Cochrane Atrium

Join Alex Nyerges, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, for a talk on his upcoming exhibition, American, born Hungary: Kertész, Capa, and the Hungarian American Photographic Legacy. Featuring more than 170 photographs and related ephemera, the exhibition focuses on Hungarian-born American artists working in the urban centers of Europe and the United States. From well-known names like André Kertész, László Moholy-Nagy, Martin Munkácsi, and György Kepes to less familiar artists whose photos have shaped our collective memory, the impact of this group is an important but under-told story in American art. American, born Hungary will come to VMFA in October 2024 following its debut at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary.

Fellows Programs are a benefit for members beginning at the Fellows Society level. To reserve a seat or learn more, please call 804.340.1499 or email rsvp@VMFA.museum.

This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, Apr 25, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
I Hold in My Hand...Prestige, Rank, and Power
with Dr. Robin Poynor, Professor Emeritus, School of Art and Art History, University of Florida

Objects held in the hand can be seen as extensions of an individual’s presentation of self through dress.  From ancient times, Yoruba notables have performed roles in the cultural hierarchy through dress, not only donning sumptuous robes but manipulating handheld items to indicate position, alluding to their place within the chain of command. In this program, Dr. Robin Poynor will address twelve object types, including brass, ivory, iron, leather, horsetail, wood, and beadwork.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 9, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
The Emperor’s Horse: Establishing the True Provenance of a Sporting Art Masterpiece
with Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Dr. Sylvain Cordier, Paul Mellon Curator and Head of the Department of European Art, will delve into the fascinating and complex history of Alfred Dedreux’s portrait of Napoleon III’s favorite horse, including his discovery that the iconic equine portrait had been stolen from a family of Jewish art dealers in Paris during the Nazi occupation. After exploring how The Emperor’s Horse encapsulates the pageantry of court life under France’s Second Empire, Dr. Cordier will relate the painting’s theft to the broader history of looted art with a behind-the-scenes look at the research methods and resources museums now use to identify stolen artworks and determine legitimate ownership.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.

Thu, May 16, 6 pm | Reynolds Lecture Hall
Salvador Dalí: Les Chants de Maldoror Etchings
with Dr. Michael Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  

Join VMFA’s Dr. Michael Taylor for a discussion of Salvador Dalí’s celebrated etchings for Les Chants de Maldoror (The Songs of Maldoror), a fantastical 1869 text written by Isidore Ducasse under the pen name of Le Comte de Lautréamont. In 1933 Dalí used his “paranoiac-critical method” to create personal visions drawn from his creative subconscious rather than illustrate Lautréamont’s text. The resulting 44 etchings, which make up a VMFA statewide traveling exhibition, represent the artist’s finest contributions to Surrealist printmaking.

The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level. This program will be offered in person and virtually, via Zoom. Click here to register for the livestream.