Robert Wellington was in conversation with Mathew Trinca on Roberts new book Versailles Mirrored. The Power of Luxury,Louis XIV to Donald Trump.
Why has Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles, defining symbol of hedonistic opulence in 17th-century France and synonymous with the notion of the divine right of kings, continued to shape the aesthetics of cultural capital in the centuries since his death?
In Versailles Mirrored, Robert Wellington tracks this enduring fascination with the Sun King's palace through eight case studies spanning the 17th to 21st centuries. The book demonstrates how the extravagant palace style began as a symbol of the state in the 17th century; how it was adopted by the nouveau riche to show off their financial success in the 19th century; and, remarkably, how that palace look returned to play a role in statecraft in the hands of US President Donald Trump. Wellington links the aristocratic architectural traditions of France, England, and Germany to North America through the lens of Versailles, French architecture, and the decorative arts.
Opening with a brief overview of the history of Versailles and the political and cultural motivations of its creation, subsequent chapters address aristocratic buildings in France and Germany built by the Sun King's contemporaries; historicism in the 19th century in Britain, Germany, and America; and the present day, with Trump's buildings and Château Louis XIV, known as the 'world's most expensive home', purchased by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.In uncovering the motivations of those patrons, the book ultimately reveals why Versailles remains a powerful point of reference for those who wish to flaunt their social, cultural, and political capital.
Robert Wellington FSA is Associate Professor of Art History in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, the Australian National University. He is an art historian with a special interest in the role of material culture in history making and cross-cultural exchange on one of the world's leading experts on the Palace of Versailles. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, London and an expert judge on the ABCs upcoming Portrait Artist of the Year.
Dr Mathew Trinca Talalin AM FAHA is Professor of Museum Practice at the Australian National University. He is Chair of the Cultural Facilities Corporation in Canberra and sits on several arts and cultural sector boards and advisory bodies. Matthew was formerly Director of the National Museum of Australia between 2014 to 2024, and worked in senior roles in the Museum from 2003.
The vote of thanks was given by Helen Musa, arts editor of Canberra City news and convener of the Canberra Critics’ Circle.
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Robert Wellington was in conversation with Mathew Trinca on Roberts new book Versailles Mirrored. The Power of Luxury,Louis XIV to Donald Trump.
Why has Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles, defining symbol of hedonistic opulence in 17th-century France and synonymous with the notion of the divine right of kings, continued to shape the aesthetics of cultural capital in the centuries since his death?
In Versailles Mirrored, Robert Wellington tracks this enduring fascination with the Sun King's palace through eight case studies spanning the 17th to 21st centuries. The book demonstrates how the extravagant palace style began as a symbol of the state in the 17th century; how it was adopted by the nouveau riche to show off their financial success in the 19th century; and, remarkably, how that palace look returned to play a role in statecraft in the hands of US President Donald Trump. Wellington links the aristocratic architectural traditions of France, England, and Germany to North America through the lens of Versailles, French architecture, and the decorative arts.
Opening with a brief overview of the history of Versailles and the political and cultural motivations of its creation, subsequent chapters address aristocratic buildings in France and Germany built by the Sun King's contemporaries; historicism in the 19th century in Britain, Germany, and America; and the present day, with Trump's buildings and Château Louis XIV, known as the 'world's most expensive home', purchased by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.In uncovering the motivations of those patrons, the book ultimately reveals why Versailles remains a powerful point of reference for those who wish to flaunt their social, cultural, and political capital.
Robert Wellington FSA is Associate Professor of Art History in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, the Australian National University. He is an art historian with a special interest in the role of material culture in history making and cross-cultural exchange on one of the world's leading experts on the Palace of Versailles. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, London and an expert judge on the ABCs upcoming Portrait Artist of the Year.
Dr Mathew Trinca Talalin AM FAHA is Professor of Museum Practice at the Australian National University. He is Chair of the Cultural Facilities Corporation in Canberra and sits on several arts and cultural sector boards and advisory bodies. Matthew was formerly Director of the National Museum of Australia between 2014 to 2024, and worked in senior roles in the Museum from 2003.
The vote of thanks was given by Helen Musa, arts editor of Canberra City news and convener of the Canberra Critics’ Circle.
Virginia Haussegger was in conversation with Frank Bongiorno on her new book Unfinished Revolution. The Feminist Fightback. In 1975, the fight was alive. It was the year the United Nations declared International Women’s Year as a marker of progress and aspiration. Fifty years on, award-winning journalist Virginia Haussegger shines a light on the feminist revolution in Australia, capturing its spirited momentum and a fatigued lag.
Unfinished Revolution tells a fresh story of feminist action in this country, from the largest women’s protest rally – March4Justice in 2021 – to the dynamic Australian Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1970s. With a focus on gender and power in politics and the media, from national consciousness raising to shifting media narratives, this book is an exploration of what feminist change looks like.
‘At a time of global backlash against women and the women’s movement, Unfinished Revolution is a spirited piece of feminist scholarship. It practically hums with righteous fury. For those who were at the pointy end of some of the historical changes in the Australian cultural zeitgeist that it charts, it is a timely reminder of what can, and has been, achieved. It acknowledges that there have been some painful moments along the way. That change is not always linear, that setbacks abound, but none of these things are cause for despondency and complacency. There is a relentless, almost bloody-minded optimism in these pages. It feels like a book which urges women to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and just keep marching.’ – Louise Milligan
‘In Unfinished Revolution, Virginia Haussegger stares down a terrifying global swing to the far-right and yells: Enough. This is the battle cry we desperately need right now, one that refuses to be watered down into niceties that ask politely for equity. This is a book that dares to fight back, and pulls no punches.’ – Hannah Ferguson
Virginia Haussegger AM, a passionate women’s advocate, and communication specialist is an award-winning television journalist, writer and commentator, whose media career spans 30 years. Virginia is Deputy Chair of the media think-tank PIJI, the Public Interest Journalism Initiative and hosts BroadTalk, a podcast about Women, Power and the Wayward World, in which prominent women speak intimately about the events that have shaped and influenced their leadership.
Frank Bongiorno AM, Professor of History ANU, is currently President of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Academy of the Humanities and a Whitlam Institute Distinguished Fellow at Western Sydney University. His most recent book is Dreamers and Schemers: A Political History of Australia.
Professor Fiona Jenkins, Convenor of the ANU Gender Institute, gave the vote of thanks.
Experience ANU
Robert Wellington was in conversation with Mathew Trinca on Roberts new book Versailles Mirrored. The Power of Luxury,Louis XIV to Donald Trump.
Why has Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles, defining symbol of hedonistic opulence in 17th-century France and synonymous with the notion of the divine right of kings, continued to shape the aesthetics of cultural capital in the centuries since his death?
In Versailles Mirrored, Robert Wellington tracks this enduring fascination with the Sun King's palace through eight case studies spanning the 17th to 21st centuries. The book demonstrates how the extravagant palace style began as a symbol of the state in the 17th century; how it was adopted by the nouveau riche to show off their financial success in the 19th century; and, remarkably, how that palace look returned to play a role in statecraft in the hands of US President Donald Trump. Wellington links the aristocratic architectural traditions of France, England, and Germany to North America through the lens of Versailles, French architecture, and the decorative arts.
Opening with a brief overview of the history of Versailles and the political and cultural motivations of its creation, subsequent chapters address aristocratic buildings in France and Germany built by the Sun King's contemporaries; historicism in the 19th century in Britain, Germany, and America; and the present day, with Trump's buildings and Château Louis XIV, known as the 'world's most expensive home', purchased by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.In uncovering the motivations of those patrons, the book ultimately reveals why Versailles remains a powerful point of reference for those who wish to flaunt their social, cultural, and political capital.
Robert Wellington FSA is Associate Professor of Art History in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, the Australian National University. He is an art historian with a special interest in the role of material culture in history making and cross-cultural exchange on one of the world's leading experts on the Palace of Versailles. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, London and an expert judge on the ABCs upcoming Portrait Artist of the Year.
Dr Mathew Trinca Talalin AM FAHA is Professor of Museum Practice at the Australian National University. He is Chair of the Cultural Facilities Corporation in Canberra and sits on several arts and cultural sector boards and advisory bodies. Matthew was formerly Director of the National Museum of Australia between 2014 to 2024, and worked in senior roles in the Museum from 2003.
The vote of thanks was given by Helen Musa, arts editor of Canberra City news and convener of the Canberra Critics’ Circle.
