Get ready to journey into the opulent world of British royalty and their priceless treasures. Join Sotheby’s Institute of Art as we uncover the magnificence and grandeur of the British royal collections, and delve into the fascinating history behind the majestic ceremonial dress of British royalty. In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Coronation of King Charles III, explore this historic event and immerse yourself in the pageantry of the British monarchy.
Discover the splendor and riches of the British royal collections, some of the most celebrated in the world. Examining paintings, sculptures and the dazzling collections of ceremonial dress, this online event marking the coronation of King Charles III will span four centuries of royal patronage and provide a unique insight into the majesty and luxury of the collections that have shaped Britain’s cultural heritage.
Schedule:
5.00: Dr. Barbara Lasic: Taste and power: four centuries of royal art collecting.
A lavish and evocative overview of the British royal collections, this talk will offer a tantalizing glimpse of the precious objects and works of art coveted and collected by illustrious monarchs such as Charles I, George IV, and Queen Victoria. The talk will conclude with a look at the artistic patronage of the royal family in the 21st century.
A glimpse into this session: The royal collections are housed in 15 royal residences across the UK including Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, where art can be viewed in the residences for which they were originally commissioned.
6.05: Matthew Storey: Royal fashions.
From gold-embroidered robes to gowns by Britain’s greatest couturiers, this talk will introduce you to the magnificent range of ceremonial dress worn by British royalty and courtiers for coronations, weddings, and court presentations. Participants will discover the fascinating stories these garments tell about the past and learn about the famous people who wore them.
A glimpse into this session: The designers of Princess Diana’s wedding dress secretly made a back-up dress in case the original sketch was leaked to the public, as it was imperative that the dress reveal was a surprise to all.
Speaker Biographies:
Dr. Barbara Lasic, Faculty MA Fine and Decorative Art and Design, Sotheby's Institute
Barbara Lasic has published on the subject of French decorative arts, the history of taste and the history of collecting, and museum architecture. Her research interests include the production and consumption of French decorative arts, 1650-1900, the private and institutional collecting and display of French art, and the intersection of the art market and curatorial practice in the early twentieth century. Prior to her academic career, Barbara worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the curatorial team involved in the redevelopment of the Europe: 1600-1800 galleries, and she held curatorial positions at the Wellcome Trust and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Matthew Storey, Collections Curator at Historic Royal Palaces.
Matthew Storey cares for the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, a collection of 10,000 items of royal and court dress kept at Hampton Court Palace. In 2021 he curated the Royal Style in the Making exhibition at Kensington Palace, which explored the work of five great royal designers, and featured the wedding dress of Diana, Princess of Wales. Matthew previously worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum, including in the Textiles and Fashion collection, and began his career at The National Gallery, London.
A Zoom link will be provided upon registration to access the livestream on Thursday, May 4 at 5:00pm GMT.