The definition of a “suitable house” changed during the eighteenth century, but its purpose remained the same throughout: to display the wealth and taste of its owner and thus to affirm his right to a place of social, economic, and political leadership. This presentation, given by Dr. Jean Russo, provides an overview of the men who built these houses (many of which still grace the streets of the city today), the families who occupied them, the ways by which they accumulated their wealth, the standards of embellishing and furnishing them, and the intricate kinship web that bound these households together.
Reservations required.
Cost: Free for HA Docents and Docents-in-Training; $5 for HA Members and Volunteers; $10 for Non-Members.