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Shady Ladies of the Metropolitan Museum

Courtesans, royal mistresses, scandalous women of every sort—the walls of the Metropolitan Museum are lined with them, from ancient Greek ‘hetaerae’ to Sargent’s Madame X and beyond.  These sexy women—often also intelligent, educated, wealthy, or even powerful—were key members of the political and cultural elites of their time, fascinating patrons and artists alike, from Praxiteles to Titian to Manet.  But who were they? What were their stories? To find out, join us as we explore the lives and loves that lie behind the paintings.

  • Learn about the complex cultures of high-end prostitution in ancient Greece and the Italian Renaissance,
  • Representations of Venus and their relationship to ladies of the night,
  • Royal mistresses in France and England,
  • The overwhelming presence of prostitutes (high and low end) in French 19th century society and art,
  • Scandals about sexy women and art in 19th century America.










When: Sat., Apr. 30, 2016 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave.
212-535-7710
Price: $49
Buy tickets/get more info now
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Courtesans, royal mistresses, scandalous women of every sort—the walls of the Metropolitan Museum are lined with them, from ancient Greek ‘hetaerae’ to Sargent’s Madame X and beyond.  These sexy women—often also intelligent, educated, wealthy, or even powerful—were key members of the political and cultural elites of their time, fascinating patrons and artists alike, from Praxiteles to Titian to Manet.  But who were they? What were their stories? To find out, join us as we explore the lives and loves that lie behind the paintings.

  • Learn about the complex cultures of high-end prostitution in ancient Greece and the Italian Renaissance,
  • Representations of Venus and their relationship to ladies of the night,
  • Royal mistresses in France and England,
  • The overwhelming presence of prostitutes (high and low end) in French 19th century society and art,
  • Scandals about sexy women and art in 19th century America.
Buy tickets/get more info now