Beauty and Cosmetics Through the Ages
| Date | Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 April 2026 |
| Time | Dr Barbara Lasic |
| Location | Online (Zoom) |
| Speaker | Dr Barbara Lasic |
Experience an evocative and vivid exploration of the historical and often dangerous pursuit of beauty with Dr Barbara Lasic. Drawing on objects in the Wallace Collection and beyond, we’ll discover the creativity, contradictions, and hidden perils of historical make-up. From the Renaissance to the Victorian age, cosmetics promised a perfection that was tantalising yet elusive. Vilified and mocked, yet irresistibly enticing, we’ll learn how cosmetic artifice captivated very diverse social groups, from impoverished courtesans to prosperous matriarchs and powerful queens. Paints, powders and brushes became the tools of reinvention for many. However, as several coveted products contained lead, mercury or arsenic, we’ll learn how the quest for beaty was risky, sometimes even fatal.
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 Q&A session with the tutor.
Tickets are for all dates of this course. Ticketholders 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 all sessions.
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.
Ticket options
| Date | Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 April 2026 |
| Time | Dr Barbara Lasic |
| Location | Online (Zoom) |
| Speaker | Dr Barbara Lasic |
Experience an evocative and vivid exploration of the historical and often dangerous pursuit of beauty with Dr Barbara Lasic. Drawing on objects in the Wallace Collection and beyond, we’ll discover the creativity, contradictions, and hidden perils of historical make-up. From the Renaissance to the Victorian age, cosmetics promised a perfection that was tantalising yet elusive. Vilified and mocked, yet irresistibly enticing, we’ll learn how cosmetic artifice captivated very diverse social groups, from impoverished courtesans to prosperous matriarchs and powerful queens. Paints, powders and brushes became the tools of reinvention for many. However, as several coveted products contained lead, mercury or arsenic, we’ll learn how the quest for beaty was risky, sometimes even fatal.
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 Q&A session with the tutor.
Tickets are for all dates of this course. Ticketholders 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 all sessions.
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.
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