David Hartt's Peripheries at The Met Pairs Contemporary Video with Vanderlyn's Versailles Panorama

David Hartt's Peripheries will debut at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 25, 2026, and will be accessible until February 7, 2027, located in Gallery 735 of the American Wing. This Canadian artist's site-specific work features two large direct-view LED screens accompanied by an original score from Jeff Parker, creating a dialogue with John Vanderlyn's Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles (1818–19), one of the largest remaining panoramic paintings in the U.S. Hartt's two-channel 4K video, approximately 16 minutes long and presented in a continuous synchronized loop, was shot throughout Paris—from Versailles to the city center—drawing inspiration from French New Wave cinema, Eugène Atget's photography, and Justinien Tribillon's The Zone: An Alternative History of Paris (2024). The installation encourages viewers to shift their focus from traditional cultural power centers to the periphery, prompting a reevaluation of how images shape perceptions of place and memory. Organized by Jane Panetta and Assistant Curator Destinee Filmore in collaboration with the American Wing, this commission illustrates the museum's commitment to bridging different periods and disciplines. By incorporating moving images and sound into the circular gallery, Hartt enhances the experience of Vanderlyn's panorama while preserving its historical importance, transforming the act of viewing into a focal point of the work.