If movies from the golden age of Hollywood are any indication, wine and cocktails of the era were served in short, squat, clear stemmed glasses or, simply, champagne glasses of a similar shape.

Over the next 50 years, stemware changed with the fashions of the day. Champagne glasses gave way to champagne flutes, wine glasses grew taller and progressively deeper and wider and then briefly lost their stem altogether. Cut glass came in and then fell out of style. And finally, perhaps most importantly, the martini glass was born and with it a whole new industry of cocktails.

In fact, conceivably the only thing that hasn't changed when it comes to the consumption of alcohol is our appetite for it.

But the changing style of drinking vessels is more than just a recognition of evolving fashions. It also offers insight into our cultural relationship to drinking itself. After all, the martini glass of today may be a ubiquitous symbol of a cocktail, but the original construction was a work of art, made for the express purpose of holding a cocktail.

In her book, "The Art of Drinking," Philippa Glanville, senior research fellow for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, examines more than 400 years of drinking vessels and cultural traditions.

Her book and its theme will be the topic of a lecture, "Toasting and Tasting: The Art of Drinking," this week at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The author will discuss her book as well as the social history of drinking and its impact on the objects that were created to serve and celebrate drinking.

"Philippa Glanville is an eminent scholar in British silver," said Suzanne Hall, associate director for communications and marketing for VMFA. "When [Rita Gans] suggested that Philippa Glanville preview her book at VMFA we were eager to make the plans."

VMFA's display, "A Celebration of Bacchus," will also be featured during the event in the Jerome and Rita Gans Gallery of English Silver, which contains one of the finest assemblages of English silver in the world.

"Within that silver collection, 'Noble Silver,' there's one section that changes on a regular basis to deepen our visitors' understanding, appreciation and knowledge of silver. The new installation, 'A Celebration of Bacchus,' is about containers for wine and beer," Hall said.

Following the lecture, there will be a wine tasting of featured wines from Broadbent Selections. Five of the nine classic grapes -- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Riesling -- will be tasted, as well as one selection from an "Old World" wine-producing country and one from the "New World." Light hors d'oeuvre paired with each wine will also be served. Glanville will sign her book following the lecture and wine tasting.

"Naturally, because we are VMFA, we wanted to make the lecture experiential by also engaging a noted wine scholar to conduct a wine tasting," Hall said.

And, of course, without the wine itself, a wine glass might as well just be a work of art.

"Toasting and Tasting: The Art of Drinking" will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 in VMFA's Marble Hall. Tickets are $65, $50 for members. Advanced tickets are required. For tickets or more information, call 804-340-1405.