Insights
Holkham Hall: A Grand Tour Legacy Preserved
Maria de Peverelli on one of her most exciting art management projects
- Thomas Coke’s 18th-century journey through Italy inspired the creation of Holkham Hall, a masterpiece of British Palladian architecture housing rare works, manuscripts, and other treasures.
- Maria de Peverellli shares insights into her work with this extraordinary “time capsule” of a collection.
For those who love both art and history, fewer stories are as compelling as Holkham Hall, a stately home constructed in the 18th century by the 1st Earl of Leicester, Thomas Coke that, according to Maria de Peverelli is “a time capsule” of history and culture.
For Maria, Stonehage Fleming’s Executive Chairman of Art Management, Holkham Hall is one of the most exciting projects of her career. “As a foreigner, to be able to work for a collection that is so British in its essence, and which is not in London, is an extraordinary privilege. Every time I go there, I am moved by the fact that I am working for them. That collection embodies the perfect example of the Grand Tour”, Maria told listeners on episode six of the ‘Family Futures, Wisdom & Wealth’ podcast.
“The Grand Tour was a rite of passage for the British elite in the 18th century. Young men would travel to Italy to be educated in the Classics and to see antiquities and modern contemporary architecture and would often ask artists in Rome to paint scenes for them to bring back as souvenirs,” explained Maria.
Thomas Coke travelled with a valet whose detailed account book provides an extraordinary account of the journey. “This listed what he did, what he spent, what be bought, and where. This is an extraordinary record,” said Maria. “Not only is the account book still in Holkham, but so are the works from Italy that he brought back (…) books, manuscripts, drawings, including a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci, known as ‘The Codex Leicester’. Thomas Coke was also the sole British collector at that time who commissioned work directly to artist Luigi Vanvitelli and owned 17 works by Vanvitelli.”
Thomas returned from the Grand Tour with a deep knowledge of art and architecture, a profound appreciation of classical culture, and a treasure trove of books, manuscripts, drawings, paintings, and sculptures and a vision: to build a house worthy of housing all he had acquired – Holkham Hall. “It is documented perfectly,” said Maria. “There are documents that confirm where he wanted certain things to be placed. Many of those works stand in the exact same place today. It is probably the best example of British Palladianism in the country.”
Episode six of ‘Family Futures, Wisdom & Wealth’ is out now. Access here to find out more about the history of Holkham Hall, practical tips for preserving cultural treasures, and more.