Lecture: Gender Bending in Eighteenth-Century Naples
Gender Bending in Eighteenth-Century Naples: Reflections on Giuseppe Bonito’s The Femminiello
Dawson W. Carr, The Janet and Richard Geary Curator of European Art
Due to widespread prejudice, images of gender nonconformity are extremely rare in European and American art before the twentieth century. A recent acquisition, Giuseppe Bonito’s The Femminiello, is an extraordinary depiction of cross-dressing in the mid-18th century. The lecture will examine the unusual cultural context that gave rise to its creation in Naples, where femminielli (which might be translated as “little female-men”) have long been considered important members of the community.
Purchase ticketsAccessibility
The Portland Art Museum is pleased to offer accommodations to ensure that our programs are accessible and inclusive. All spaces for this program are accessible by wheelchair. Assistive listening devices are also available for lectures. All restrooms have accessible stalls but no power doors. There are single-stall all-gender bathrooms available. Please ask staff for directions.
We will do our best to accommodate your needs when you arrive, however, we need 2-3 weeks advance notice for some specific requests. Please email requests to access@pam.org, or call 503-226-2811.