Inspired By Women

Inspired by Women celebrates the many facets of women’s lives in the 1700s and 1800s, and the often invisible histories of women and women's work. Explore over fifty rarely-exhibited textiles from the historical collections of the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria displayed alongside treasures of British and European fine and decorative arts from The Johnston Collection. William Johnston’s lifelong interests in textiles and beautiful objects were nurtured by influential women including his mother and grandmother. Each room of his 1860s East Melbourne townhouse, Fairhall, has been re-imagined, revealing new narratives about womanhood. Discover the work of women artists, makers, and artisans — silversmiths, embroiderers, painters, and decorators of porcelain — and uncover the intellectual and political influence of Georgian and Regency women, including collector and botanist the Duchess of Portland; society hostesses Lady Melbourne and Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire; and creative maker, Mary Delany.