Fall Exhibition at Heritage House Highlights Victorian Taste in Art

Published: 8/13/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Aug. 13, 2026

Contact:

Robyn G. Peterson

Museum Director

[email protected]

(951) 826-5792

Fall Exhibition at Heritage House Highlights Victorian Taste in Art

Riverside , CA - The Museum of Riverside will open its fall highlight exhibition on Sept. 11 at Heritage House, 8193 Magnolia Avenue. Gilded: The Art of Heritage House will take a close look at the fine and decorative arts that capture every visitor's attention upon entering this grand Victorian home in Riverside and will introduce some new pieces to the house!

The Industrial Revolution and colonial economic forces that characterized the Victorian era (1837-1901) led to growing wealth, new markets, exotic imports, newly invented artists' materials, and global artistic influences. The middle classes grew and often engaged in an extravagant display of their new wealth. The cliché of "Victorian excess" is based in truth. Victorians sought to legitimize their standing by adopting and reinforcing established academic approaches to art. At the same time, the art that made history -- from the Impressionists on -- fought the Victorians' essentially conservative artistic taste. The Victorian era -- when Heritage House was designed and built -- is a complex historic period and Gilded explores some of the reasons why.

Museum Director and curator of this exhibition Robyn G. Peterson states, "Twice a year, Heritage House gives us a way to take a detailed look at an aspect of the Victorian experience and reflect upon it through the lens of today. In Gilded, we examine how the rapid economic and social upheavals in nineteenth-century England and, by extension, the U.S., influenced the styles and types of fine and decorative art produced."

Gilded: The Art of Heritage House will be on view Sept. 11 through Nov. 29, 2026. Engaging programs are scheduled throughout, and all take place at Heritage House:

• Saturday, Sept. 12, noon to 4:00 p.m. - "Art in the Victorian Era" with painting workshops throughout the afternoon and a tour with the curator at 2:15 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, noon to 4:00 p.m. - "Dying for Art," a drop-in event where visitors will learn about experimental and toxic artists' materials and find out which famous artists suffered or died for their work.
• Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 to 3:30 p.m. - "Write Like a Victorian: A Literary Romp" where you can try your hand at writing a cringe-worthy Victorian-style opening line and recite it for all!

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