Step into a world of elegance, ambition, and imagination in this captivating talk with Kedra Kearis, Ph.D., Associate Curator of Art and Visual Culture at Winterthur Museum, exploring how the elite women on the North Shore shaped domestic environments through the adoption of French revival styles.

Focusing on figures such as Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, Katherine Mackay, and our very own Mai Rogers Coe, this program reveals how Gilded Age women of the Gold Coast visualized centuries of French style through the art, architecture, and interiors of their grand residences.

From a medieval-inspired château to French Renaissance and eighteenth-century interiors, these storied estates reveal a wide range of French models in their conception. Imported furnishings, decorative arts, and commissioned portraiture created richly layered settings that evoked both Gothic fantasy and ancien régime elegance.

Whether building a castle of one’s own or simply a room of one’s own, this talk explores how these women cultivated le goût français and brought French art and design traditions into their homes, positioning themselves as influential tastemakers of the Gilded Age.

Event Schedule:
6pm: Doors open
6 – 6:45pm: Self-guided exploration of the Main House, including both floors,  while sipping on a complimentary signature cocktail: The Mai Rosé – Rosé Champagne over ice, garnished with fresh berries, and topped with a splash of seltzer for a crisp, refreshing finish
6:45 – 8pm: Presentation from Kedra Kearis, followed by Q & A 

All tickets final sale.