Discover one of the most influential dynasties in Europe and their profound impact on the world of art. Focusing on a small selection of artworks now in the Wallace Collection as well as those in other collections, we’ll learn how the Habsburgs emerged as dukes of Austria and kings of Germany, playing vital roles in both politics and the arts from the 13th century on. Our discussions will include key members of the family, from Philip II of Spain to the female governors of the Netherlands who in turn enriched Habsburg collections and expanded cities such as Vienna, Prague, and Madrid. We’ll also examine the 18th-century patronage of Empress Maria Theresia, and consider the dynasty’s gradual decline during the 19th century under Franz Josef.

Read the full course description here.

Joining Information and Format: This course will be taught through Zoom Webinar. Each course session duration is 120 minutes, including a five-minute break and time for Q&A with the tutor.

Tickets are for all dates. Ticket holders will be emailed the Zoom link, Webinar ID and Passcode 24 hours in advance of the first course session, which should be retained for accessing both sessions of the course.

Course Recording: This course will be recorded. Within 48 hours of each course session, ticket holders will be emailed a link to view the recording, which will be available for two weeks.