In 1746 Horace Walpole published his poem, ’The Beauties: an Epistle to Mr Eckardt the Painter’. From that moment until the artist’s death some thirty years later, Walpole became the principal patron of the German born John Giles Eccardt, commissioning from him a series of small-scale portraits of himself and his coterie, which he hung in the intimate surroundings of his blue bed-chamber at Strawberry Hill.
Horace Walpole was the son of Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. He devoted his life to politics, the arts, antiquarianism, history, collecting and authorship and, from 1749, the creation of Strawberry Hill, his summer villa.
Visit Pitzhanger Manor, former home of neo-classical architect Sir John Soane, for an evening of talks about three important collections of art and objects and how they were assembled
This lecture will explore the life, work and legacy of Dr Samuel Johnson who firmly held the belief that ‘to be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition
The poet Alexander Pope was proud of his independence and of his social relations. Both a symbol and an embodiment of his beliefs, his villa and garden in Twickenham were built with the profits of his pen and provided a space where he could entertain his friends. His five-acre garden furnished much of the food that was served at his table; the local area provided much of the rest.