Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery

Travel back in time as the Speed premieres one of the most important collections of American art in the world.

Featuring more than 230 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, furniture, silver, and ceramics from Yale University’s renowned collection of 18th- and 19th-century American art.

Highlighted treasures include John Trumbull’s eight Revolutionary War scenes, including The Declaration of Independence; as well as works by Winslow Homer, John Singleton Copley, Charles Willson Peale, Thomas Eakins and Paul Revere.

This is the first time Yale’s key American works have traveled outside of New Haven for an exhibition. It is the largest exhibition the Speed has ever hosted in a long and prestigious history of presenting fine art in Louisville. Yale University’s monumental collection will encompass all of the museum’s main galleries.

Tickets are $15, $7 for members and may be purchased here, by calling Actors Theatre of Louisville Box Office at (502) 584-1205 or at the Speed Art Museum.

Discount tickets are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (502) 634-2960 or by e-mailing tours@speedmuseum.org.

An exhibition audio guide featuring insights from distinguished Yale scholars as well as Pulitzer Prize winning author and Yale graduate David McCullough, whose passion is American history. The guide is available for $5.

A handsome exhibition catalogue is available for $39.95 in the Museum Shop.

Throughout the exhibition, the Speed will offer an array of programming that will appeal to adults and families. See full list.

To find out more about the exhibition and other works in the Yale University Art Gallery Collection visit http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/collection/exhibitions/ex_traveling.html.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery was organized by the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut, and made possible by generous funding from Happy and Bob Doran, B.A. 1955; Carolyn and Gerald Grinstein, B.A. 1954; Mrs. William S. Kilroy, Sr.; Mrs. Frederick R. Mayer; Nancy and Clive Runnells, B.A. 1948; Ellen and Stephen D. Susman, B.A. 1962; the Eugénie Prendergast Fund for American art, given by Jan and Warren Adelson; and the Friends of American Arts at Yale.

The audio guide was made possible by Ellen and Stephen D. Susman, B.A. 1962, and the Susman Family Foundation.