Talks & Events
ANNE HARBERS
“Enjoying the Ice”, Circle of Hendrick Avercamp (1585 Amsterdam – 1634 Kampen). Private collection
Upcoming Talks & Events
Anne’s love and understanding of art history is put to good use in her lectures. She is in demand to give talks to adult art enthusiasts on decorative arts, most recently, on those of Dutch, French and Russian makers and periods, at the Art Gallery of NSW and on Antique Silver for the National Trust.
She also lectures regularly at the WEA in Sydney, and at a range of libraries and special interest societies, including the Jane Austen Society of Australia and The Johnston Collection in Melbourne.
October 2024
Jane Austen – Art & Dress
“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.”
― Auguste Rodin
DISCUSSION GROUPS
WEA Sydney’s Discussion Group Program is a distance education program designed for self-paced group study. Anne’s Discussion Group subjects include.
From French Royalty to Empire – Art and decorative elegance from Louis XIV’s Versailles to Napoleon
French monarchs managed their images as carefully as any self-branded celebrity today. How did Louis XIV use the artisans and artists of the day through his patronage to enhance and dazzle his image as Sun-King? How did he make Versailles the representation of himself to be envied and copied by monarchs all over Europe? Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were the epitome of 18th century frivolity and play with artists creating portraits to reflect their extravagance but also to make political statements. The arts of beautiful clocks and incredible silver with themes of nature and fine porcelain also reflected the developing ideals of the Enlightenment. Lastly, in order to reinforce his acquired position of leader of France and Emperor, Napoleon employed many similar tactics in his use of the arts as had previous French monarchs.
This is a Discussion Group course, please see Course Information here.
A Celebration of 400 Years of Women Artists
In every century there have been outstanding women artists who have achieved a reputation that has tested time and sat well-earned, alongside their male colleagues. Often their life stories are remarkable in themselves and give us a glimpse into social histories of their age. In this 5 unit course we will look back over the last 400 years, and will consider Artemisia Gentileschi, Rachel Ruysch, Angelica Kauffman, Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Grace Cossington Smith, Hilda Rix Nicolas and others. We will also look at who are the recognised women in art in the 21st century so far.
This is a Discussion Group course, please see Course Information here.
Royalty & Riches, Looters & Collectors – The Wonders of the Art Museums of Today
Millions of people each year visit the major Museums of art from London to New York and from Paris to St Petersburg. But who were the individuals or families that amassed these amazing collections? What are the stories behind the masterpieces? How did major art works travel between countries as war booty from the 1500s to looted art in WWII? Some collectors were Royalty and some were new to Royalty and trying to establish their status whilst others just amassed riches to enjoy. Whether you are travelling and want some background to your Museum visits or just enjoy the stories of history, this course will have plenty to interest and intrigue. Museums studied include the Louvre, the Hermitage, the Frick Collection in New York and London’s Courtauld Institute.
This is a Discussion Group course, please see Course Information here.
An excellent presentation on Rembrandt. Anne Harbers was articulate, interesting, well informed and presented an enjoyable and memorable lecture. Thank you.
Anne is such an engaging presenter.
Very respectful and inclusive of adult knowledge. Anne created a safe environment for discussion. Anne gave contextual information in order to understand artists lives at the time. The pace was just right, not too fast nor too slow. Excellent.
Excellent presenter. Anne made the course very enjoyable and informative. On completion of the course you feel inspired and wanting additional courses.
A very interesting course, by an enthusiastic tutor
Anne loves to share her passion for great works of art and the artists who created them.
To book a talk, request help or contact her, please use this form. She will get right back to you.