The Newport Antiques Show Celebrates the Museum of the American Revolution

NEWPORT, RI – May 2015 – The Newport Antiques Show creates great buzz throughout Newport and across New England each summer. This year’s event has heightened anticipation for a very special loan exhibition: Liberty Forever: Treasures from the Museum of the American Revolution.

The Museum of the American Revolution (MoAR), now under construction, is preparing to open its doors in historic Philadelphia in 2017. A distinguished collection of artifacts, artwork and manuscripts will be used to explore the complete story of the American Revolution. The Museum’s collection includes objects that span the scope of the war — from General Washington’s Headquarters Tent to a private’s canteen; and from British, French and American arms used in battles to personal diaries and equipment used in camp.

Liberty Forever will feature items from the MoAR collection, many of which have a New England provenance. These objects include a c.1774 mug that reads, “Success to ye city of Boston, Liberty For Ever,” and an inscribed powder horn made in Warwick, Rhode Island. In addition, the exhibit will feature two 18th-century portraits that have not been publicly displayed in the United States — a portrait of a British officer, Captain William Crosbie, and a portrait of French officer Joachim du Perron, Comte de Revel.

“Sharing objects such as the recently acquired portrait of du Perron at the Newport Antiques Show is very exciting,” explains Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, Ph.D, MoAR’s Director of Collections and Interpretation and curator of Liberty Forever. “Contemporary portraits of those who took part in the American Revolution are very rare — and rarer still are portraits showing a distinguished French officer in uniform. Newport, where the French troops landed in 1780, is the ideal place to unveil this painting.”

Dr. Stephenson will be presenting a talk titled “Liberty Forever: Exhibiting the Revolution,” as part of the Newport Antiques Show’s lecture series. He will share the stories of several artifacts on exhibit including silver camp cups owned and used by General Washington. Dr. Stephenson will also offer a preview of exhibits in the forthcoming MoAR in Philadelphia, slated to open in spring 2017. The lecture schedule will be announced in June.

Dr. Stephenson is leading the MoAR’s exhibition and programming planning for the new facility, scheduled to open in Philadelphia in spring 2017. A Pittsburgh native, he holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in American History from the University of Virginia. His broad public history experience includes work as a curator, historical interpreter, scriptwriter, and historical and visual consultant for television and film. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate the American Revolution at this year’s Newport Antiques Show,” explains the Newport Historical Society’s Executive Director Ruth Taylor. “Liberty Forever offers New Englanders a much anticipated preview of what is being developed in Philadelphia. It’s also a great complement to the presentations of the dealers at the Show. It will be a revolutionary summer!”

The Newport Antiques Show runs July 24-26, 2015 at St. George’s School in Middletown, RI and opens with the Gala Preview Party on Thursday July 23, 2015. Weekend admission costs $15 per person or $20 for a three-day pass, which includes entrance to the loan exhibit, a daily lecture and the chance to shop amongst the country’s most exclusive antiques dealers. Gala tickets start at $150 per person. Since 2007, the Show has raised over $1.6 million for its co-beneficiaries, the Newport Historical Society, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. 

About The Newport Antiques Show

The Newport Antiques Show, founded in 2007, is one of the country’s leading antiques and decorative arts shows. Proceeds benefit both the Newport Historical Society and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. For more information visit NewportAntiquesShow.com or call 401-846-2669.

About the Museum of the American Revolution

The Museum of the American Revolution, now under construction just steps from Independence Mall, will explore the complete story of the American Revolution using its distinguished collection of objects, artifacts, artwork and manuscripts. The Museum will serve as a portal to the nation’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context and encouraging explorations that begin at the Museum’s doorstep. The Museum is a private, non-profit organization. For more information, visit AmRevMuseum.org or call toll free, 877-740-1776.