The Phidelphia Museum of Art Presents: ‘La Vie de Cassat’

Woman Arranging Her Veil (detail), around 1890, by Mary Cassatt (Philadelphia Museum of Art: Bequest of Lisa Norris Elkins, 1950-92-3).

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s ‘La Vie de Cassat’ event, hosted at The Rittenhouse Hotel in honor of the all-new Mary Cassat at Work exhibitition coming to the museum this summer. An evening filled with light bites and French fair, La Vie de Cassat was an exquisite platform for museum curators, art historians and Philadelphia press to explore what this groundbreaking exhibit will have to offer beginning May 18th.

‘La Vie de Cassat’ — An Evening Devoted to Mary Cassat’s Art and Achievements

The evening began at 6 PM sharp at The Rittenhouse, with a selection of French-inspired bites and drinks being served in the Mary Cassat Tea Room and the gorgeous garden tucked away behind its French doors.

Cassat was a Pennsylvanian herself (before moving to Paris to pursue her art career in earnest), and her brother had owned a home on the very site where this hotel was eventually built. Cassat would make her own way to Philadelphia eventually and spent much time staying in that house — it felt like quite the full circle moment.

Once everyone was settled in and finished mixing and mingling, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Chief Marketing Officer, as well as the exhibition’s co-curators, gave remarks about the exhibition, and about the expansive nature of Mary Cassat’s work (which took them over four years to compile!), and her raw dedication to her craft. An impressionist whose talent and dedication allowed her to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her male contemporaries (like Monet, for one), Cassat’s popularity laid the groundwork for female artists from thereon out.

The evening ended with a glass of Mural City Cellars’ special edition Cab Franc Rosé, inspired by the exhibition Mary Cassat at Work, which was a lovely, refreshing way to end the night and kick off a summer full of bustling art and cultural events coming to the City of Brotherly Love.

Visit the exhibit all summer long

You can visit the Mary Cassat at Work exhibition this summer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, starting May 18th — purchase your tickets here, and enjoy!

Xoxo,

MM.