The Spanish South: The New Orleans Antiques Forum 2022

From 1763 to 1803, Louisiana was part of the vast Spanish colonial domain that encircled the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, leaving an indelible mark on the art, architecture, and material culture of the region. Across the Americas, Spanish colonial rule led to cross-cultural exchange, as goods from Europe, Asia, and enslaved and Indigenous craftspeople inspired new artistic expressions in ceramics, silver, textiles, and more

In anticipation of the upcoming THNOC exhibition Spanish New Orleans and the Caribbean, the 2022 New Orleans Antiques Forum will explore the colorful Spanish era in Louisiana and the surrounding gulf region. Experts and scholars from across the country will explore decorative arts in Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, and beyond.

For the 2022 version of the New Orleans Antiques Forum, Laura Beltrán-Rubio will be giving a lecture titled “Fashioning the Spanish Empire: Dress, Portraiture, and the 18th-Century Culture of Appearances.”