Portrait of a Free Woman of Color
This rare 1837 oil painting has a history that, until recently, remained a secret. Visit the French Quarter Galleries to hear her story.
Sometimes, a painting’s history is as mysterious as the subject it depicts. Such is the case with this portrait of a free woman of color, painted in 1837 by the New Orleans artist François Fleischbein. For years, the portrait went by the name Betsy, based on the presumed identity of the sitter as an enslaved servant to the artist. Gone was her fine lace collar—the result of a botched conservation job.
The story of this artwork and HNOC’s handling of it is the subject of a special display inside the the French Quarter Galleries at 520 Royal Street. Visitors are shown a glimpse of the sometimes messy politics of art stewardship and given an opportunity to reflect on implicit bias in cultural institutions.
The portrait is located inside the French Quarter Galleries at 520 Royal Street on the 3rd floor of the Seignouret-Brulatour Building.
Plan Your Visit
French Quarter Galleries
Explore how the French Quarter went from swampy colonial outpost to the oldest neighborhood in America’s most distinctive city.
Hours & Location
520 Royal Street
Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m
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Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Admission
Admission is free but tickets are required. Stop by the front desk or reserve tickets online. Ticket includes admission to all exhibitions and regular daily programs.
Contact Us
Museum: (504) 523-4662
Email: tours@hnoc.org
Related Stories
Identity Theft
Nearly 35 years ago, a heedless conservator altered a rare portrait of a free woman of color. Now, it has been restored and is on view again—and this time, HNOC is telling the story.
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