The Promise of Peace: Violet Oakley's United Nations Portraits

The Oakley portraits showcase her lifelong dedication to the promotion of peace and world harmony. One of the great artists of Philadelphia, Oakley was an independent, forward-thinking, and self-described “pilgrim seeking peace” who began her career in 1895 and achieved great success in a male-dominated profession. This will be the first time many of these works have been exhibited in more than ten years, and they have never been shown in the context of interpreting their historical moment.