Two portraits by Julien Hudson find a permanent home in the French Quarter

Written By Alicia Vial

Historic New Orleans Collection acquires exceedingly rare paintings by elusive Creole artist

NEW ORLEANS — The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC), home to the world’s largest collection of materials related to the history and culture of New Orleans, recently acquired two exceedingly rare paintings by Louisiana’s first native-born portraitist and the second-known portraitist of color in America – Julien Hudson. These two important works of American art history, gifted by the Robert and Martha Bolton Living Trust in memory of James D. (Don) Didier, are now available for a rare showing at HNOC’s Williams Research Center.  

For more than a century, the name Julien Hudson has been shrouded in mystery. Born in 1811 in New Orleans, he was the son of a property-owning free woman of color and a white English merchant, ironmonger and ship chandler. He began as a tailor’s apprentice before beginning his painting career in the mid-1820s, training first in New Orleans and later in Paris.

Little is known about his personal life, outside of scattered details found in a handful of public documents and a pair of early 20th-century reminiscences by former student George Coulon and prominent Creole of color Rodolphe Desdunes. Hudson’s untimely, mysterious death at age 33 brought his enigmatic career to an end. Only six of his works are known to exist.

“Hudson’s story is alluring, frustrating and poignant as he only left behind a fragmented body of work when he died,” wrote William Keyse Rudolph, who served as guest curator of the 2011 exhibition "In Search of Julien Hudson" and who co-authored the accompanying catalog. The exhibition was the first retrospective of Hudson’s work and for the first time brought together all his known works under one roof.

“HNOC is incredibly honored to receive these exceedingly rare paintings – one depicting a Creole boy, the other an African or African-descended man — and to assume the responsibility of stewarding them for posterity. These two important works of American art will join our permanent collection and serve as evidence of our rich and storied past, about which we will always have more to learn,” said HNOC’s President and CEO Daniel Hammer.

The wall text displayed with each portrait will explore what is known and what remains a mystery about the sitters and Hudson himself. The public is invited to visit and reflect on the lives of the individuals depicted in the paintings and the artist who left them behind too soon.

HNOC’s 2011 exhibition catalog “In Search of Julien Hudson: Free Artist of Color in Pre-Civil War New Orleans” provides essential background on the artist. Edited by HNOC deputy director, Erin M. Greenwald, PhD, the fully illustrated 116-page volume is the most thorough examination of Hudson’s work and life to date. Greenwald also contributed the introduction, with additional essays by Patricia Brady and Rudolph. The book can be purchased at HNOC’s award-winning museum store or online at shophnoc.org.   

The two portraits will be on display on the second floor of HNOC’s Williams Research Center at 410 Chartres St. in the French Quarter. The public is invited to view the portraits, and museum admission is not required. The Williams Research Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about Hudson and to plan your visit, go to hnoc.org.

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About the Historic New Orleans Collection
The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) is a nonprofit institution dedicated to preserving the distinctive history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Founded in 1966 through the Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation, HNOC operates as a free museum, research center and publisher spanning more than 14 historic buildings in the heart of the French Quarter. For more information visit hnoc.org.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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