Bringing Portraits to Life: Physicians, Artists, and their Long History at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Join us at the College for a special event from the Section on Medicine and the Arts: "Bringing Portraits to Life: Physicians, Artists, and Their Long History at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia." Event Details: This program, organized by the College's Section on Medicine and the Arts, will highlight the captivating portraiture in the College's collections through presentations by: physician/biographer Dr. Joe Lex (creator of the podcast “All Bones Considered”); art historian Dr. Siobhan Conaty; photographer, retired anesthesiologist, College Fellow, and Past College Board Chair, Dr. Andrea Baldeck; and the celebrated artist who painted Dr. Baldeck's portrait, Ms. Maureen Drdak. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session moderated by Dr. Douglas Reifler, Chair of the Section on Medicine and the Arts at the College. As attendees settle into their seats in the College's historic Mitchell Hall, they will embark on a journey that breathes life into the portraits surrounding them. Dr. Joe Lex will walk them through fascinating stories, as only he can, about several individuals who are permanent residents of Laurel Hill Cemetery and whose portraits are displayed at the College for generations to see. Next, attendees will accompany art historian Dr. Siobhan Conaty as she explores the longstanding relationship between artists and physicians through carefully selected portraits in the College’s collection, considering what these portraits reveal about both the physicians who commissioned them and the artists who brought them to life. And, finally, attendees will hear first-hand accounts from both the living subject of a College portrait and the artist who painted it - Dr. Andrea Baldeck and Ms. Maureen Drdak, respectively - as they lead attendees through their process. A lively Q&A session moderated by Section Chair, Dr. Douglas Reifler, will follow.