Antiques Forum 2011: The French Empire Style and Its Influence in the American South

John Magill, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

John Magill, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

John Magill, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

John Lawrence, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

John Lawrence, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

John Lawrence, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

Pamela Arceneaux, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

Pamela Arceneaux, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

Pamela Arceneaux, museum curator, discusses an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War.

The museum's curators discuss an exhibition of the earliest-known paper photos of New Orleans. The show, called “A Closer Look: The Antebellum Photographs of Jay Dearborn Edwards, 1858-1861,” features three dozen images of a thriving southern city on the brink of the Civil War. On view from October 1, 2008-February 20, 2009.