The Newport Symposium: The French Influence in Newport

A two-day program exploring how French aristocratic culture shaped the art, architecture, cuisine, and design of Gilded Age Newport.

This year’s timely symposium theme coincides with both the current Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light exhibition at Rosecliff, and HBO’s popular The Gilded Age television series, which returned for a third season this summer. Hunt’s design for Marble House, modeled after the Petit Trianon Versailles, stands as a classic example of how French precedents shaped Gilded Age culture in Newport.

Fine and decorative arts enthusiasts will learn about significant transatlantic influences that defined the epoch through tours, talks, and behind-the-scenes highlights from a collection of distinguished scholars, curators, and design industry professionals. Some speaker highlights include: