Print this page Royal Collectors of Europe – The Art they wanted and acquired, & where to see it now!

Meet six European Royal collectors and the impressive collections that we still flock to visit today in great numbers.  What was the motivation for their collecting – a genuine love of art or only for status? How did they use their art collections for diplomacy and territorial gain? Charles I of England wanted a specific Italian collection aiming to emulate the Court of Spain.  Napoleon detailed specific paintings written into the Treaties of the countries he conquered, advocating that only the French had the “taste” to appreciate great art.  Catherine the Great acquired more art in her lifetime than any other European monarch.  And a visit to Vienna today will show you acquisitions from avid Royal Habsburg collectors.

This is a Discussion Group course, if you aren’t already part of a group please see ‘Getting Started’ below.

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Author: Anne Harbers

Course Code: D251

Supplied Material: Course Booklet

Units & Pricing: 6 units / $78 per person

GETTING STARTED

Start your Group: Anyone can start a Discussion Group – seek out some like-minded friends or put up a notice in your local library, bookshop or workplace. Please note a minimum of 6 people is required to start a new discussion group.

Arrange the Meetings: New groups need to decide where and when to meet, and for how long – whatever best suits members' particular situations.

Run your Group: Choose a secretary to liaise with WEA and your tutor, a Discussion Leader to chair meetings, a reporter to take discussion notes to send to your tutor, and maybe a librarian to look after the books.

Start the Course: Contact WEA Sydney to enrol. Bookings can be made for one year, divided into two terms – Term 1 commences in February, Term 2 in July (Groups may make forward bookings for popular choices). Please indicate in what order your Group wishes to study the courses, if more than one course is booked.