Art History: Painting the Revolution with Beth Stein

Thursday, June 11, from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, Museum admission included.

The five great American artists of the late 18^th century – Charles Willson Peale, John Singleton Copley, Benjamin West, John Trumbull and Gilbert Stuart – had started their careers as British subjects, loyal to the Crown.  The Revolution forced them to examine whether they intended to carry forward this status or become contributing citizens in the new republic.  They lived through a time of great change that demanded to be painted for the people of their time, and for posterity – independence, warfare, diplomatic triumph, near collapse, the Constitution, the rise of the presidency and the federal government.  They attempted to make sense of it all by turning to brushes and canvases.  We have come to believe in them and what they say about the Revolution and the Founders, by breathing life into historical events and figures.   Even today, our collective understanding of what America’s origins look like is still largely dependent on these five artists and their images. 

Beth Stein has been educating adult audiences on the lives and works of famous artists for the past fifteen years, on Cape Cod and in New Jersey. She received her BS in education from Indiana University, MA in history from Seton Hall University and MA in administration/supervision from Montclair State University. She has been involved in the world of education for forty years, working as a high school teacher, district and private school administrator, and college professor.

In October of 2003, she was named runner-up for the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) Teacher of the Year award and was formally recognized by the New Jersey State Legislature and Governor Codey for this achievement. In May of 2004, she was the recipient of the “Innovations in Special Education Award” from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped (ASAH). In her retirement, Beth presented illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, and community centers in New Jersey, and since 2015, continues to do so at various venues on Cape Cod. She has been the recipient of Massachusetts Cultural Council grants for the past six years. In addition, she is the current Chair of the Programs and Advancement Committee for the Brewster Historical Society, Brewster, Massachusetts.

We have scholarships! The Cape Cod Museum of Art is committed to making Art accessible to everyone in the Cape Cod Community. The Museum School Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance to qualified, year-round Cape Cod residents ages 6 and up. Click here to apply.

This event is presented in conjunction with Old Yarmouth: Life During the American Revolution April 9 - July 19, 2026

Cancellation Policy: A one-week advance cancellation notice is required in order to receive a refund.