Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence seems to have an enduring attraction.  The story of the raid has been told multiple times on film.  Events of the raid have provided back stories for characters in novels, movies, and television programs.  In 1863, it captured the attention of the entire nation.  Often referred to as the “Lawrence Massacre” or “Invasion of Kansas,” it was covered on the front page of newspapers nationwide and featured in national magazines.  That press coverage added to the sensationalism of the event, and magazine illustrations emphasized the horror and violence of the tragedy.  The upcoming exhibition, Art of Tragedy:  Depictions of Quantrill’s Raid, explores the role artists played in recording the history of the event and ensuring its notoriety.

Featuring period magazine illustrations and modern depictions of Quantrill’s raid, Art of Tragedy, explores traditions of depicting terrifying events in art.  Without visual evidence of the raid—there are no photographs from the time and only one sketch, done from memory by a survivor, recording the event—east coast artists relied on traditional depictions of historic tragedies to “illustrate” the raid and convey its horrors.  This exhibition will explore those traditions, dating back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods, comparing them to depictions of Quantrill’s raid, including the museum’s recent significant acquisition, Lawrence Massacre, by Ethel Magafan.

Art of Tragedy is sponsored in part by Jeff and Mary Weinberg.