Visionary Collectors: American Women and the Art They Championed

Through four exclusive workshops offered for the Alliance Française of Philadelphia, this lecture series explores the visionary American women who built extraordinary art collections—Isabella Stewart Gardner’s Venetianinspired masterpiece, Gertrude Stein’s avant-garde Parisian salon, Marjorie Merriweather Post’s opulent treasures, and Peggy Guggenheim’s daring embrace of modernism. Each lecture will be delivered in English, followed bya discussion in French, offering participants the opportunity to engage with the material while practicing their language skills with native speaker and art historian Tosca Ruggieri

Peggy Guggenheim : A Collector with Flair

Join art historian Tosca Ruggieri for an exploration of the remarkable life and legacy of Peggy Guggenheim, one of the 20th century’s most unconventional and visionary art collectors. Known for her progressive approach, Peggy defied the expectations of the Guggenheim family, becoming a key figure in modern art history. Her influence spanned major movements from Dada and Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism, with close ties to groundbreaking artists such as Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst,Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko.This lecture will trace Peggy’s journey from her New York upbringing to her exposure to European art, where she developed a deep passion for Surrealism and Cubism. We’ll explore her role in promoting and supporting emerging artists, particularly her contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement in the United States. Peggy’spersonal life and relationships also shaped her unique role as a patron of the arts, and her decision to make Venice her home culminated in the creation of the now-iconic Peggy Guggenheim Collection.Join us as we uncover how Peggy blended business with passion, leaving a lasting legacy in the art world that continues to resonate today

Tosca Ruggieri, art historian and museum educator was raised between France & Italy. Fueled by a lifelong love for art, Tosca established Art with Tosca in 2021 after moving to Washington D.C. Tosca holds degrees from EPHE-Sorbonne, Paris and King’s College London. Prior to founding Art with Tosca, Tosca enriched her experience by working for a prominent art collector in Paris and in London art galleries. Now, Tosca shares her passion on a wider scale through a series of online lectures. Based in Washington D.C., Tosca also curates captivating tours of the D.C. museums, in particular at the National Gallery of Art, guiding guests through a treasure trove of masterpieces, spanning the Italian Renaissance to modern times. Tosca's mission is to make art a more approachable through engaging experiences. Whether you're joining from the comfort of your home through lectures and virtual events or exploring museums halls in person, Tosca offers journeys through centuries of artistic expression

*** WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ***

Date : Tuesday, June 10th, 2025

Time : 6:30pm

Duration : 1 hour 

Format : 45-50 min Lecture in English, followed by 10-15 min Q&A in French (optional)

Location : Online (Zoom)  - Opportunity for those who attended or registered to receive the replay

Language : English, French  

Fee : $12 for AF Members / $15 for non AF Members

*** REGISTRATION ***

Register by filling the form below and we will send you a link the morning of  the event to join the meeting with the lecturer and the other participants.

If you pass the deadline to register, call us on (215) 735-5283 and we will add you to the list of participants.

*** NOT A MEMBER YET ? ***

Create your membership and join the AF members team !