@waddesdoncurators.bsky.social
Gainsborough born #onthisday in 1727 painted one of Waddesdon's most popular works: 'The Pink Boy'. It acquired its nickname in the 19th century, in the wake of the fame of the 'Blue Boy', now
@TheHuntington
@TheHuntington
May 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Gainsborough born #onthisday in 1727 painted one of Waddesdon's most popular works: 'The Pink Boy'. It acquired its nickname in the 19th century, in the wake of the fame of the 'Blue Boy', now
@TheHuntington
@TheHuntington
Louis (Carrogis) de Carmontelle, Henri-Louis cain, called Lekain (1726-1778), in the role of Nero, c 1773
May 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Louis (Carrogis) de Carmontelle, Henri-Louis cain, called Lekain (1726-1778), in the role of Nero, c 1773
Jean Michel Moreau the Younger, La petite loge (The opera box), 1777
May 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Jean Michel Moreau the Younger, La petite loge (The opera box), 1777
Jean Michel Moreau the Younger, Les adieux (The farewell), 1776
May 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Jean Michel Moreau the Younger, Les adieux (The farewell), 1776
Significant Signatures: Autograph Letters from the Waddesdon Archive is one of two new exhibitions that have opened this week inside the Manor. On display are a number of letters from historical giants such as Elizabeth I, Benjamin Franklin, Lord Byron and Mozart
March 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Significant Signatures: Autograph Letters from the Waddesdon Archive is one of two new exhibitions that have opened this week inside the Manor. On display are a number of letters from historical giants such as Elizabeth I, Benjamin Franklin, Lord Byron and Mozart
The meeting point between the early dream for the house, and the literal vision of that house shaped by inhabiting it… Our new exhibition - Discovering Jewish Country Houses: Photographs by Hélène Binet - opens today in the Manor's Exhibition Room
March 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The meeting point between the early dream for the house, and the literal vision of that house shaped by inhabiting it… Our new exhibition - Discovering Jewish Country Houses: Photographs by Hélène Binet - opens today in the Manor's Exhibition Room
We recently welcomed Zenzie Tinker (textile conservators) to Waddesdon to remove and repair the silk coverings of one of the walls in the Morning Room. Here's a short timelapse of how the team went about it:
March 21, 2025 at 12:46 PM
We recently welcomed Zenzie Tinker (textile conservators) to Waddesdon to remove and repair the silk coverings of one of the walls in the Morning Room. Here's a short timelapse of how the team went about it:
On International Women's Day we celebrate the strong ladies of Waddesdon. Their contributions made waves within the arts and heritage community, for example, "Miss Alice's Rules" are now used as preventative conservation measures across the whole of the National Trust
March 7, 2025 at 12:09 PM
On International Women's Day we celebrate the strong ladies of Waddesdon. Their contributions made waves within the arts and heritage community, for example, "Miss Alice's Rules" are now used as preventative conservation measures across the whole of the National Trust
This print (The Disarmament of the Good Nobility) refers to the 'Day of the Daggers' on 28 February 1791. This is supposedly 'the exact form of the foul daggers' carried by the pro-monarchists who had come to defend King Louis XVI
February 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This print (The Disarmament of the Good Nobility) refers to the 'Day of the Daggers' on 28 February 1791. This is supposedly 'the exact form of the foul daggers' carried by the pro-monarchists who had come to defend King Louis XVI
Conservation works can often reveal unexpected treats; our conservator recently discovered that beneath the real wood frame of this tromp l'oeil painting the artist had completed the work with a typically lifelike painted frame. It shall henceforth be displayed as shown here
February 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Conservation works can often reveal unexpected treats; our conservator recently discovered that beneath the real wood frame of this tromp l'oeil painting the artist had completed the work with a typically lifelike painted frame. It shall henceforth be displayed as shown here
For a brief couple of hours, our 17th-Century Savonnerie carpets have enjoyed the light of day whilst being photographed by our friends at Oxford Archaeology. The photos will be combined to create one highly detailed image for each of our 13 carpets
February 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
For a brief couple of hours, our 17th-Century Savonnerie carpets have enjoyed the light of day whilst being photographed by our friends at Oxford Archaeology. The photos will be combined to create one highly detailed image for each of our 13 carpets
Our very own curators Mia Jackson and Rachel Jacobs have made lovely contributions to this shiny new publication on women artists / designers across the National Trust's properties and collections: bit.ly/4jgTMbL
February 24, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Our very own curators Mia Jackson and Rachel Jacobs have made lovely contributions to this shiny new publication on women artists / designers across the National Trust's properties and collections: bit.ly/4jgTMbL
Along with the grounds, our Conservation Hub is open this half term - it's located nearby the playground and can be found on our Bloomberg Connects app: bloombergconnects.org
February 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Along with the grounds, our Conservation Hub is open this half term - it's located nearby the playground and can be found on our Bloomberg Connects app: bloombergconnects.org
#Objectofthemonth - The Red Ante Room welcomes back this bellissimo 1850s Italian rock crystal and cut glass chandelier, which has been cleaned and rewired. It was originally part of a pair, and its twin sibling likely still survives somewhere in Italy
February 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
#Objectofthemonth - The Red Ante Room welcomes back this bellissimo 1850s Italian rock crystal and cut glass chandelier, which has been cleaned and rewired. It was originally part of a pair, and its twin sibling likely still survives somewhere in Italy
From the Archives: a touching love letter from Dorothy Pinto to James de Rothschild (Jan 1913). When James 'phoned his parents to announce their engagement, the quality of the line was such that they misheard and assumed he was marrying Dorothy Minto - a West End musical star!
February 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
From the Archives: a touching love letter from Dorothy Pinto to James de Rothschild (Jan 1913). When James 'phoned his parents to announce their engagement, the quality of the line was such that they misheard and assumed he was marrying Dorothy Minto - a West End musical star!
Moses is back from his travels in Italy. Guercino’s painting has been on display at The Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome and starred in the exhibition’s ad campaign. Moses is now home at Waddesdon and you can see him alongside Guercino’s King David when the Manor reopens on 26 March.
February 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Moses is back from his travels in Italy. Guercino’s painting has been on display at The Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome and starred in the exhibition’s ad campaign. Moses is now home at Waddesdon and you can see him alongside Guercino’s King David when the Manor reopens on 26 March.
Our 18th-century organ clock is making the journey back to its ancestral homeland this week; it will be kept at the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht for the next year where it will be investigated, restored and cleaned by specialist conservators.
February 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Our 18th-century organ clock is making the journey back to its ancestral homeland this week; it will be kept at the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht for the next year where it will be investigated, restored and cleaned by specialist conservators.
King Charles I, whose likeness is captured on this snuff box (c 1705–1728), was beheaded #otd in 1649. Like today, the weather was very fresh at the time, which caused the 48-year-old King to worry that should he shiver from cold, the onlookers might mistake him for being fearful
January 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
King Charles I, whose likeness is captured on this snuff box (c 1705–1728), was beheaded #otd in 1649. Like today, the weather was very fresh at the time, which caused the 48-year-old King to worry that should he shiver from cold, the onlookers might mistake him for being fearful
The Manor has been put to bed until March...
'Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!' (Wordsworth, 1802)
'Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!' (Wordsworth, 1802)
January 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The Manor has been put to bed until March...
'Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!' (Wordsworth, 1802)
'Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!' (Wordsworth, 1802)
300 years old in 2025, 'The Game of Good Children' teaches children about the worries, sorrows and intrigues of life. The rules are listed in the centre. If they manage to pass the trials and avoid Death at square 58, players reach square 63 and sit at the Table of Good Children
January 28, 2025 at 12:09 PM
300 years old in 2025, 'The Game of Good Children' teaches children about the worries, sorrows and intrigues of life. The rules are listed in the centre. If they manage to pass the trials and avoid Death at square 58, players reach square 63 and sit at the Table of Good Children
(Published on this day in Jan 1792) 'The General Lafayette, supported by Marshalls Lukner's and Rochambeau's batons, takes the moon with his teeth'. Thanks to any historians who are able to explain what on earth this is all about...
January 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
(Published on this day in Jan 1792) 'The General Lafayette, supported by Marshalls Lukner's and Rochambeau's batons, takes the moon with his teeth'. Thanks to any historians who are able to explain what on earth this is all about...
Our Significant Signatures exhibition is being assembled by Waddesdon's archival team. On display will be autographs and letters from some of the most influential figures of the last 500 years. The Guardian has been good enough to provide some background: bit.ly/4gIvg1E
January 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Our Significant Signatures exhibition is being assembled by Waddesdon's archival team. On display will be autographs and letters from some of the most influential figures of the last 500 years. The Guardian has been good enough to provide some background: bit.ly/4gIvg1E
The Tree of Liberty was one of the principal symbols of the French Revolution; they weren't always literal trees, and this example - planted on this day in 1793 in Mainz, Germany - was more of a maypole with foliage stuck on top
January 14, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The Tree of Liberty was one of the principal symbols of the French Revolution; they weren't always literal trees, and this example - planted on this day in 1793 in Mainz, Germany - was more of a maypole with foliage stuck on top
Having survived the snow and frost, these tenacious daffodils are a welcome but surprising sight for this time of year - found in the grounds of Waddesdon near the aviary
January 10, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Having survived the snow and frost, these tenacious daffodils are a welcome but surprising sight for this time of year - found in the grounds of Waddesdon near the aviary
Depicting a huntsman riding an easel, this trade card of a German artist wishes all a happy new year - the date in the bottom left is 1786 and the writing is loosely translated as 'self-made based on Life in the Moonlight'
January 8, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Depicting a huntsman riding an easel, this trade card of a German artist wishes all a happy new year - the date in the bottom left is 1786 and the writing is loosely translated as 'self-made based on Life in the Moonlight'