
What are the features of 18th century Grand Tour of Europe?
18th Century Grand Tour of Europe 1 Origins of the Grand Tour. Privileged young graduates of sixteenth-century Europe pioneered a trend wherein they traveled across the continent in search of art and cultural experiences upon their graduation. 2 Navigating Europe. ... 3 Features of the Grand Tour. ... 4 Returning to England. ... 5 Sources. ...
What was the purpose of the Grand Tour in Europe?
In art market: The role of the Grand Tour In the 18th century the so-called Grand Tour became a rite of passage for aristocratic young men. The journey typically involved three or four years of travel around Europe and included an extensive sojourn in Italy, as Rome was considered the ultimate destination….
How long did the Grand Tour take to complete?
In the 18th century the so-called Grand Tour became a rite of passage for aristocratic young men. The journey typically involved three or four years of travel around Europe and included an extensive sojourn in Italy, as Rome was considered the ultimate destination…
What happened to the Grand Tour in the 19th century?
After the advent of steam-powered transportation around 1825, the Grand Tour custom continued, but it was of a qualitative difference — cheaper to undertake, safer, easier, open to anyone. During much of the 19th century, most educated young men of privilege undertook the Grand Tour.

What is the concept of Grand Tour?
1. or Grand Tour : a journey to the different countries of Europe that in the past was part of the education of wealthy young people from Britain and the U.S. 2. : a tour that is given to show people around a place.
What is the grand tour art history?
The Grand Tour gave concrete form to northern Europeans' ideas about the Greco-Roman world and helped foster Neoclassical ideals. The most ambitious tourists visited excavations at such sites as Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Tivoli, and purchased antiquities to decorate their homes.
How long did the grand tour last in the 17th and 18th century?
two to four yearsYoung English elites of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries often spent two to four years touring around Europe in an effort to broaden their horizons and learn about language, architecture, geography, and culture in an experience known as the Grand Tour.
What was the purpose of grand tours?
The purpose of the Grand Tour was to provide male members of upper-class families with a formative experience. The term was first used by the Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassels in his guidebook The Voyage of Italy.
When and why was The Grand Tour developed?
The term 'Grand Tour' was coined by the Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassels (c. 1603-68), who used it in his influential guidebook The Voyage of Italty (published 1670) to describe young lords travelling abroad to learn about art, architecture and antiquity.
What happened to The Grand Tour?
Amazon Prime has confirmed that The Grand Tour will not be coming to an end as fans begin to question the lifespan of the car show.
Why did The Grand Tour end?
In April 2019, Mr Clarkson appeared to well up as he spoke in the final episode of season three. This was because the trio were announcing that they would no longer be doing shows from their tent, meaning there would be no more studio audiences.
How did The Grand Tour start?
The programme was conceived in the wake of the departure of Clarkson, Hammond, May and Wilman from the BBC series Top Gear and was originally contracted with 36 episodes over three years.
What was The Grand Tour and when did it take place?
The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tutor or family member) when they had come of age (about 21 years old).
When did Grand Tour start?
November 18, 2016The Grand Tour / First episode date
When did the tradition of the Grand Tour begin?
The Grand Tour was a trip of Europe, typically undertaken by young men, which begun in the 17th century and went through to the mid-19th. Women over the age of 21 would occasionally partake, providing they were accompanied by a chaperone from their family.
What does humanism mean in art?
What Is Humanism? Humanism is a moral philosophy that drew inspiration from classical antiquity and had significant influence on the work of Italian Renaissance artists. As Europe emerged from the Middle Ages, painters, sculptors, and architects sought to return to the ideals of Classical Greek and Roman society.
Which countries were most commonly visited during the Grand Tour?
Italy was exceedingly the most travelled country on the Grand Tour, no less than three cities had to be visited, but often five or six cities would be visited. The Grand Tour was a literary voyage through society, and the Romans left Italy as the redoubtable cradle of Western civilisation.
Which of the following does history painting include?
There are five main categories of "History Painting": religious, mythological, allegorical, literary and historical.
Why was the tour important in the 18th century?
During the eighteenth century in particular, the tour became a highly desirable way for aristrocrats and gentry acros Europe, and especially Britain, to polish off their education.
Where did the Grand Tour take place?
The traditional route of the Grand Tour involved arriving in Paris where tourists would bring or buy transport, and they would then cross the Alps carried by chair at Mont Cenis before moving on to Turin. Tourists would aim for famous festivals such as the Carnival in Venice or Holy Week in Rome.
What cities did the 3rd Earl of Egremont visit?
The 3rd Earl followed in his father's footsteps, and undertook not one but two Grand Tours of Europe between the years 1770 and 1774, visiting Dresden, Paris, Berlin, Prague and Vienna, as well as Venice.
Where did George Lyttelton go to see the Carnival?
He then travelled with his friend, the author George Lyttelton (1709-73), to Genoa at the end of the month, taking in both Milan and Padua on the way, before enjoying an extended stay in Venice alongside 'about thirty' other English tourists to see the Carnival.
Who coined the term "grand tour"?
The term 'Grand Tour' was coined by the Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassels (c.1603-68), who used it in his influential guidebook The Voyage of Italty (published 1670) to describe young lords travelling abroad to learn about art, architecture and antiquity.
Where did Charles Wyndham go?
We know from a series of letters written to his father that Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont (1710-63), left England in 1727 with his tutor, Mr. Campbell, first spending two years at an academy in Paris. In September 1729, he left for Lyons with Benjamin Bathurst. Having journeyed on to Turin in early November, the Earl attended a Ball given by the French ambassador to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin, and danced 'all night long' with the Princess Francavilla. He then travelled with his friend, the author George Lyttelton (1709-73), to Genoa at the end of the month, taking in both Milan and Padua on the way, before enjoying an extended stay in Venice alongside 'about thirty' other English tourists to see the Carnival. The Earl returned to Rome in Februrary 1730 before moving on to Naples and back to Rome and then on to Florence in mid-May. From there he made his way home in the company of Lyttelton.
What is the Grand Tour?
The Grand Tour was a trip of Europe, typically undertaken by young men, which begun in the 17th century and went through to the mid-19th. Women over the age of 21 would occasionally partake, providing they were accompanied by a chaperone from their family. The Grand Tour was seen as an educational trip across Europe, usually starting in Dover, ...
Where did the Travellers travel?
Travellers (occompanied by a tutor) would often start around the South East region and head in to France, where a coach would often be rented should the party be wealthy enough. Occasionally, the coaches would need to be disassembled in order to cross difficult terrain such as the Alps.
What did travellers get up to?
With their near-unlimited funds, travellers would often head off for months – or even years – in search of Western civilisation, perfect ing their language skills and even commissioning paintings in the process .
What was the Grand Tour?
This practice, which grew to be wildly popular, became known as the Grand Tour, a term introduced by Richard Lassels in his 1670 book Voyage to Italy. Specialty guidebooks, tour guides, and other aspects of the tourist industry were developed during this time to meet the needs of wealthy 20-something male and female travelers and their tutors as they explored the European continent.
Where did the Grand Tour take place?
The average Grand Tourist traveled from city to city, usually spending weeks in smaller cities and up to several months in the three major ones. Paris, France was the most popular stop of the Grand Tour for its cultural, architectural, and political influence. It was also popular because most young British elite already spoke French, ...
What was the first Italian city?
From Paris, many Tourists proceeded across the Alps or took a boat on the Mediterranean Sea to get to Italy, another essential stopping point. For those who made their way across the Alps, Turin was the first Italian city they'd come to and some remained here while others simply passed through on their way to Rome or Venice.
What were the major cities that the Grand Tourists visited?
Grand Tourists were primarily interested in visiting cities that were considered major centers of culture at the time, so Paris, Rome, and Venice were not to be missed. Florence and Naples were also popular destinations but were regarded as more optional than the aforementioned cities.
What was the purpose of the Grand Tour?
While the original purpose of the Grand Tour was educational , a great deal of time was spent on much more frivolous pursuits. Among these were drinking, gambling, and intimate encounters—some Tourists regarded their travels as an opportunity to indulge in promiscuity with little consequence.
How long did it take to cross the English Channel?
A trip from Dover across the Channel to Calais and finally into Paris customarily took three days. After all, crossing the wide channel was and is not easy.
How long did the English spend touring Europe?
Young English elites of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries often spent two to four years touring around Europe in an effort to broaden their horizons and learn about language, architecture, geography, and culture in an experience known as the Grand Tour. The Grand Tour, which didn't come to an end until the close of the eighteenth century, ...
What was the purpose of the Grand Tour?
A trip that was designed to introduce the young ‘ milord ‘ to the art, history and culture of Italy. The British educational system was based on Latin and Greek literature ...
Why was the Grand Tour important?
The Grand Tour inspired many travellers to take a greater interest in Roman history and art. The British School at Rome was established to learn more about the Roman ruins and to fund excavations. The School still exists today.
What volcano was active in the 1760s?
Meanwhile Vesuvius, the volcano that dominates the Bay of Naples was having an active phase in the 1760s and 1770s, most days steam could be seen rising from the crater and frequently, especially after nightfall, streams of glowing lava could be observed. Lord Hamilton wrote several articles on Vesuvius and the lava flows that he witnessed. Many visiting painters were inspired to paint Vesuvius and the surrounding area. The science of vulcanology was in its infancy. The spectacle that Vesuvius offered visitors most nights must have seemed quite extraordinary to the early Grand Tourists – typically away from home in strange and different lands for the first time.
How long does a grand tour of Europe last?
A typical Grand Tour of Europe could last up to two years and would always include several months staying in each city visited.
How many miles did a carriage cover in the 1730s?
In the 1730s and 1740s roads were rough and full of potholes, carriages could expect to cover a maximum of 15-20 miles per day. Highwaymen and groups of brigands often preyed on travellers, hoping to steal money and jewels. In the days of the ‘Grand Tour’ travel wasn’t for the faint-hearted .
How did the British make the journey south?
THE JOURNEY – Young gentlemen would make the journey south from The British Isles, either by ship or overland by horse and carriage. There are numerous reports of these young travellers being made chronically ill by travel sickness, rough seas and ‘foreign food’. In the 1730s and 1740s roads were rough and full of potholes, carriages could expect to cover a maximum of 15-20 miles per day. Highwaymen and groups of brigands often preyed on travellers, hoping to steal money and jewels. In the days of the ‘Grand Tour’ travel wasn’t for the faint-hearted . Crossing the Alps was a particular challenge. Depending on the age and level of fitness of travellers, it may have been necessary to hire a sedan chair to be carried, literally, by strong local men over various Alpine passes. In fact the ‘chairmen of Mont Cenis’ close to Val d’Isere were known throughout the Alps for their strength and dexterity. These ‘chair carriers’ worked in pairs and groups of four, six or even eight men – they physically carried the ‘Grand Tourists’ over the Alps.
Where is the Grand Tour?
Grand Tour – historic map showing a possible route from England through France across the Alps and down into Italy (marked in red).
What was the Grand Tour?
The Grand Tour was a phenomenon greatly associated to the young members of the British aristocracy and gentry of the eighteenth century. Although not a solely British custom, as it was also fashionable among other northern European countries, it was Britain who contributed with the larger numbers.
When did the Grand Tour start?
One of its first relevant figures to embark on the trip was Inigo Jones, who most probably travelled for the first time in the late 1590s, but it was in 1613 when he travelled to Italy in the company of the Earl of Arundel, one of Britain’s greatest patrons of the arts of his time. Patronage became the driving force of this new phenomenon, guiding the young grand tourists’ curiosity and providing them with much needed access to the local establishment and sources of knowledge. The Grand Tour became a staple in the education of young gentlemen, and although they had to travel through other countries, Italy was its primary destination.
When did John Soane travel to Italy?
He set off on March 8th, 1778 on a travelling studentship granted by King George III through the Royal Academy (that he often referred to as my Academy) in the company of fellow travelling student Robert Furze Brettingham and by the 2nd of May he had reached Rome. He was among a small minority of architects among artists and grand tourists. His early choose o destinations and building to survey came from a letter given to him by sir William Chamber, member of the Royal Academy and a grand tourist himself, and to some extent responsible for the studentship that gave Soane the opportunity to travel.
What was the most popular pilgrimage site in Europe?
The term, and to some extend the custom are said to have derived from the writings of Richard Lassels’s book ‘the voyage of Italy ’ published in 1670, a little under a century prior to its height in popularity, which occurred between the 1740s ad 1790s (Borley, 13). Though it never experienced the popularity of the late eighteenth century, since it suffered an abrupt halt during the French revolution and the hostilities between France and England, a slight revival of tour took place in the 1820s for a brief time as new routes to Greece (with the demise of the ottoman empire) and the appearance of mass tourism (Thomas Cook established his international travelling agency in 1841), shifted the focus and tradition of the Tour.
What was the first stop on the renaissance?
The renaissance era that had started in Florence as consequence of the new focus in literature and historic texts by scholars went hand in hand with a desire for cultural and artistic achievements. The highlights of the trip were Florence along with Naples, Rome and Venice were the highlights of the trip. It was precisely Florence the common first stop, and the British consul Horace Mann, who welcomed travellers into the Alglo-Italian society, for almost a most of the century, which eased the arrival of grand tourists and prepare them to the main attraction of the trip, Rome.
Who was Soane's mentor?
Soane was a follower of Adam and Inigo Jones, but the architect who became his mentor and encouraged him to pursue the grand tour was George Dance (1740-1825). Dance was chosen among dissatisfied members of the Incorporated Society of Artists to represent architecture in the newly Royal Academy. The academy successfully petitioned patronage from King George III (granted on December 10th 1760) (Stoud, 21). The creation of the Royal Academy and the close relationship between Soane and Dance, who he worked for a short time before moving on to Henry Holland’s practice (which he thought more practical) but with whom he kept an excellent friendship; was critical to the young Soane and his future development as an architect. Being a founding member of the Academy, it is doubtless that he encouraged Soane to join it. Joinig was also a requisite to opt for a travelling studentship, surely an ambition by now of the young Soane, who had attended the lectures being delivered by the likes of Thomas Sandby, Joshua Reynolds or William chambers, all of whom had experienced the awe and inspiration derived from travelling and studying abroad and were adamantly in favour of classical aesthetics.
What did people do on the Grand Tour?
The primary attraction of the tour lay in its exposure of the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance , such as the excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii, as well as the chance to enter fashionable and aristocratic European society.
Who went on the Grand Tour?
In his 1670 guidebook The Voyage of Italy, Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassells coined the term ‘Grand Tour’ to describe young lords travelling abroad to learn about art, culture and history. The primary demographic of Grand Tour travellers changed little over the years, though primarily upper-class men of sufficient means and rank embarked upon the journey when they had ‘come of age’ at around 21.
Why did the popularity of the Grand Tour decline?
A Thomas Cook flyer from 1922 advertising cruises down the Nile. This mode of tourism has been immortalised in works such as Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.
Who was on the Grand Tour?
Young ladies, Maria Edgeworth and Mary Wollstonecraft, for instance, would also embark on these journeys with their companions, however these tours were not expected to round out her education or develop her character in the same manner as a man’s. Princess Caroline, who died in childbirth in 1817, had gone on a Grand Tour after the Napoleonic Wars ended, and was romantically involved with an Italian courtier, Bartolomeo Pergami. During the Edwardian era, it was common for a young lady to travel abroad on a relatively short trip with a companion. Lucy Honeychurch in A Room With a View ( click here to read my review of the 2007 movie) was one such girl. Jo March from Little Women had hoped to accompany her Aunt Carol to Europe, but it was her sister Amy who was invited along instead.
Who said "Shall I ever forget the sensations I experienced upon slowly descending the hills, and crossing the bridge?
Shall I ever forget the sensations I experienced upon slowly descending the hills, and crossing the bridge over the Tiber; when I entered an avenue between terraces and ornamented gates of villas, which leads to the Porto del Popolo, and beheld the square, the domes, the obelisk, the long perspective of streets and palaces opening beyond, all glowing with the vivid red of sunset? – William Beckford describing his Grand Tour in a letter, 1780
Learn about this topic in these articles
In the 18th century the so-called Grand Tour became a rite of passage for aristocratic young men. The journey typically involved three or four years of travel around Europe and included an extensive sojourn in Italy, as Rome was considered the ultimate destination…
history of art market development
In the 18th century the so-called Grand Tour became a rite of passage for aristocratic young men. The journey typically involved three or four years of travel around Europe and included an extensive sojourn in Italy, as Rome was considered the ultimate destination…

Origins of The Grand Tour
Navigating Europe
- A typical journey through Europe was long and winding with many stops along the way. London was commonly used as a starting point and the Tour was usually kicked off with a difficult trip across the English Channel.
Features of The Grand Tour
- The vast majority of Tourists took part in similar activities during their exploration with art at the center of it all. Once a Tourist arrived at a destination, they would seek housing and settle in for anywhere from weeks to months, even years. Though certainly not an overly trying experience for most, the Grand Tour presented a unique set of challenges for travelers to overcome.
Returning to England
- Upon returning to England, tourists were meant to be ready to assume the responsibilities of an aristocrat. The Grand Tour was ultimately worthwhile as it has been credited with spurring dramatic developments in British architecture and culture, but many viewed it as a waste of time during this period because many Tourists did not come home more mature than when they had l…
Sources
- Burk, Kathleen. "The Grand Tour of Europe". Gresham College, 6 Apr. 2005.
- Knowles, Rachel. “The Grand Tour.” Regency History, 30 Apr. 2013.
- Sorabella, Jean. “The Grand Tour.” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Met Museum, Oct. 2003.