The Grand Tour in The Hague
Until January 4, 2026, the Mauritshuis presents The Grand Tour – Destination Italy: a journey through masterpieces from three prominent British country houses: Burghley House, Holkham Hall, and Woburn Abbey. The artworks in this exhibition were collected in the 17th and 18th centuries during the Grand Tour: a multi-year, educational journey across the European mainland, intended as the culmination of the education of young British aristocrats. Among the highlights are an impressive portrait of Thomas William Coke (Holkham Hall) by Pompeo Batoni, work by Angelica Kauffman (Burghley House), and two large Venetian cityscapes by Canaletto, all on display in the Netherlands for the first time. A beautiful collection that can no longer be seen in this context, so fans of Italian art should make a stop in The Hague.
The Grand Tour – Destination Italy
Nowadays, there is such a thing as a 'gap year' after high school, but a Grand Tour could easily last several years. Italy was the ultimate destination, with Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice as highlights. Along the way, travelers learned about art, architecture, and culture—and collected artworks for their English (country) homes, just as we would bring back souvenirs today. Yet these journeys were not always well-behaved. They were also known for temptations such as gambling and nocturnal revelry. To keep the young men in line, escorts traveled along. Such a 'private tutor' was mockingly called a 'bear tamer' (bear leader). From the 18th century onwards, more and more women also went on the Grand Tour, sometimes traveling with entire families. The end of the Grand Tour tradition was heralded by the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). In the 19th century, travel would change forever with the arrival of the steam train.
Burghley House – great at collecting
Visitors are introduced to two remarkable travelers from the Cecil family: John Cecil, the 5th Earl of Exeter, and Brownlow Cecil, the 9th Earl. In the 17th century, John traveled through Europe four times with his wife to collect art for their family estate, Burghley House. Furniture, tapestries—everything was purchased, but above all, a great many paintings to furnish their palace. Their journeys were far from light: they set out with children, servants, and dozens of horses. Furthermore, the Grand Tours were not without challenges: sick servants were left behind, horses succumbed to the heat, and carriages broke down.
Holkham Hall – a country house for art
Thomas Coke, the 1st Earl of Leicester, was only fifteen when he embarked on his six-year Grand Tour (1712–1718). He traveled with a clear purpose: to collect art for the future Holkham Hall, which he had built upon his return in the Palladian style, featuring Roman columns, temple-like facades, and strict symmetry. In this palatial country house, the artworks were displayed to their full potential. During his journey, he collected paintings, drawings, sculptures, books, and manuscripts. Coke was regarded as one of the most important 18th-century collectors of Claude Lorrain, the French master of Italian landscapes, such as the beautiful View of a Seaport and Amphitheater. But also the highlight of the exhibition: an impressive portrait of his second cousin Thomas William Coke, painted by Pompeo Batoni, a true Grand Tour portrait with a Roman statue from the Vatican in the background.
Woburn Abbey – obsession with Venice
When thinking of the Grand Tour, one thinks of Rome, but also of Venice. John Russell, who became the 4th Duke of Bedford in 1735, visited this city during his Grand Tour (1730-1731). Like many young aristocrats, he wanted to take a lasting memento home with him. And what could be more fitting than a city view of Canaletto – the painter of 18th-century Venice. Eventually, John Russell’s commission was expanded into a series of more than 24 paintings, the largest surviving series of Canalettos. These paintings normally hang in the dining room of Woburn Abbey, the centuries-old family home of the Russells.
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