Lecture Explores Art and Fashion in the Edwardian Era
Mary Alexander to give talk hosted by The Art Society Ealing
Cinq Heures Chez Paquin by Henri Gervex
October 21, 2025
A public lecture host by the Art Society Ealing next week will examine the visual culture and social dynamics of the Edwardian period, focusing on the role of portraiture, fashion, and interior design in shaping perceptions of refinement and status.
Titled Edwardian Elegance: Art, High Society and Fashion, the talk will explore the work of artists such as John Singer Sargent, Philip de Laszlo, and Giovanni Boldini, whose portraits captured the aspirations and aesthetics of aristocratic and newly wealthy patrons in Britain and abroad. The lecture will consider how art functioned as a tool for social acceptance and how figures such as King Edward VII and the Marlborough House set influenced cultural norms.
Themes include the impact of American wealth and taste on British society, and the evolving role of women in shaping etiquette and public life. Literary commentaries from Henry James, Edith Wharton, and Elinor Glyn will be used to contextualise the personalities and social tensions of the time.
The speaker, Mary Alexander, brings a background in curatorial work and design consultancy. She previously served as Assistant Curator at Platt Hall, the Gallery of English Costume, and has lectured at the University of Leeds, the Open University, and Christie’s Education in London. Her career also includes work with international design firm Pentagram in both London and New York.
The event takes place on Monday 27 October at St Barnabas Church Hall, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QG. Doors open at 6:45pm, with the lecture beginning at 7:30pm. Entry is £10 per person (£3 for students), payable by card on the evening.
For those interested in the period, the Edwardians: Age of Elegance exhibition at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace offers further insight into the era’s visual and cultural legacy: Exhibition details
The Arts Society Ealing belongs to the large umbrella organisation, The Arts Society, previously known as the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS), which was founded in 1968. The local Society has a membership of around 140.
The Arts Society Ealing holds 10 lectures a year and more information can be found by visiting its web site.
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