Lecture Access

This lecture will be available to view until 4 January 2027

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OVERVIEW

Watch on Demand | Online Lecture


For a brief decade at the dawn of the twentieth century, Britain basked in a golden age of style.

 The Edwardian era, named for King Edward VII, was a final, dazzling flourish of aristocratic confidence. It was an age of grand balls and glittering gowns, of opulent jewels and refined taste, lived in the gathering shadow of the changes that the First World War would soon bring.

A major Royal Collection exhibition, The Edwardians: Age of Elegance, brings this world vividly to life. Spanning the tastes of two fashionable royal couples, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, George V and Queen Mary, it gathers fashion, jewellery, paintings and personal treasures, many shown publicly for the first time. Among them are luminous portraits by Sargent and Leighton, exquisite objects by Fabergé, and works reflecting the era's embrace of Aestheticism, Art Nouveau, and the Arts and Crafts movement.

Drawing on the exhibition's highlights, this lecture explores the people, artistry and ideals that defined Edwardian Britain at its radiant peak.

LECTURER

Biography

Anne Harbers is an experienced presenter and writer on Art History and Decorative Arts. After taking degrees in Chemistry and enjoying a career in medical research and international business, Anne followed her heart and obtained an MA degree from the University of Sydney. A long-time enthusiast for 18th century European decorative arts and English literature, she is currently undertaking art history research projects relating to British and European subjects.

Anne Harbers

Art Historian