Inspired in part, by Dressing the Abbey, this engaging four-week art history course, taught jointly by Scott Schweigert, Curator of Art and Civilization, and Geoff Fleming, Executive Director and CEO, offers an in-depth exploration of the tradition of the Country Home in both America and Great Britain. The sessions explore the country house as a site of art, power, and cultural imagination, tracing its evolution from aristocratic seat to symbol of wealth and to modern myth. Through case studies in Britain, Ireland, and the United States—and even its reinvention and romanticization on screen—the series will examine how these lavish houses functioned as both private residences and public statements, and how their collections and architectural legacies continue to shape our understanding of art and history.

Upcoming dates:

October 21: Power, Patronage, and Display: The Country House at Chatsworth, Burghley and Houghton Hall

October 28: A Legacy Denied: Lost Country Houses of Ireland

November 4: Art and Opulence: Gilded Age Mansions and the Rise of Patronage

November 11: The Country House in Film & Television