The Grand Tour, a cultural and educational journey undertaken by European elites from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, played a crucial role in shaping European identity. The phenomenon, which saw participants from various nations converge on Italy, gradually evolved into modern tourism with the rise of the bourgeoisie. William Barnard Clarke (1806 1865), an English architect and antiquarian, embarked on a Grand Tour from 1838 to 1840, travelling through France and Italy. Previously undocumented, his journey came to light in 2020 through the rediscovery of 39 sketches. Clarke s drawings, focused on architecture and archaeology, provide valuable visual records of sites such as Veleia, capturing details often missing from other sources. Clarke, an active member of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, significantly contributed to cartography and architectural studies. His work reflects a commitment to disseminating knowledge beyond academic circles. His relationship with antiquities extended even beyond his travels, as evidenced by his involvement with the Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica in Rome. His engagement with European antiquities extended beyond his travels, as evidenced by his correspondence with Rome s Institute of Archaeological Correspondence. Clarke s journey marks the transition from the aristocratic Grand Tour to a more structured, scholarly approach to cultural heritage, underscoring his role as both a documentarian and an advocate for broader accessibility to historical knowledge.
Tra disegno e scoperta: Architettura e Archeologia nel Grand Tour di William Barnard Clarke. Una testimonianza ritrovata.
Tamburrino, Eugenio
2025-01-01
Abstract
The Grand Tour, a cultural and educational journey undertaken by European elites from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, played a crucial role in shaping European identity. The phenomenon, which saw participants from various nations converge on Italy, gradually evolved into modern tourism with the rise of the bourgeoisie. William Barnard Clarke (1806 1865), an English architect and antiquarian, embarked on a Grand Tour from 1838 to 1840, travelling through France and Italy. Previously undocumented, his journey came to light in 2020 through the rediscovery of 39 sketches. Clarke s drawings, focused on architecture and archaeology, provide valuable visual records of sites such as Veleia, capturing details often missing from other sources. Clarke, an active member of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, significantly contributed to cartography and architectural studies. His work reflects a commitment to disseminating knowledge beyond academic circles. His relationship with antiquities extended even beyond his travels, as evidenced by his involvement with the Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica in Rome. His engagement with European antiquities extended beyond his travels, as evidenced by his correspondence with Rome s Institute of Archaeological Correspondence. Clarke s journey marks the transition from the aristocratic Grand Tour to a more structured, scholarly approach to cultural heritage, underscoring his role as both a documentarian and an advocate for broader accessibility to historical knowledge.
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