The Wallace Collection is perhaps the greatest single art collection ever gifted to a nation. That this came about is due to Sir Richard Wallace. Born in 1818, Wallace was a philanthropist during a period renowned for its strong philanthropic ethos. He was already an acknowledged connoisseur when, in 1870, he unexpectedly inherited the celebrated art collection of Richard Seymour-Conway, 4th Marquess of Hertford, together with great wealth. This remarkable windfall enabled him to indulge his twin passions: collecting, and enriching public education through art. Although he died in 1890 without having bequeathed his collection at Hertford House in London to the nation, his French widow, Lady Wallace, was undoubtedly fulfilling his wishes in doing so on her death in 1897.
This is the first book exclusively dedicated to Sir Richard Wallace. Lavishly illustrated with more than 490 pictures, it includes much new information about his mysterious origins and his fascinating life in England, Ireland and France.
Text in French.
490 illustrations
By:
Suzanne Higgott
Translated by:
Philippe Mothe
Imprint: The Wallace Collection
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 235mm,
Width: 197mm,
Spine: 30mm
Weight: 1.368kg
ISBN: 9780995486140
ISBN 10: 099548614X
Pages: 428
Publication Date: 04 May 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
CONTENTS foreword by xavier bray, director of the wallace collection 7 acknowledgements 10 PART ONE 15 1 who was sir richard wallace? 15 ii art agent to lord hertford and independent collector, 1842–57 41 iii curating lord hertford’s collection 75 iv a sense of place and purpose 117 PART TWO 157 v expanding the collection 157 vi curating the collection 205 vii taking art to the public 273 PART THREE 319 viii sir richard wallace’s death and its aftermath 319 Explanations: Prefixes, Dimensions and Glossary 348 Images of Wallace Collection works of art mentioned but not illustrated in the text 349 Map of Hertford and Wallace properties in Paris 366 A note on currency and prices 368 Chronology 369 Exhibitions to which Sir Richard and Lady Wallace made loans 383 Notes 386 Select Bibliography 417 Picture credits 421 Index 424
