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Description: | Captain Thomas Coram lived in an age that cared little for the plight of unwanted children, who were often left to die on the streets of London. When Coram retired after a life spent as a successful ship-builder and sailor, primarily based in America, he was horrified by the spectacle of poverty on London's streets. He spent the rest of his life working to fulfil his great scheme to establish a refuge for abandoned children. In this endeavour he was assisted by his friend, the artist William Hogarth, who like Coram himself was childless. Their efforts were rewarded in 1739, when George II granted a Royal Charter for the establishment of a Foundling Hospital. Hogarth personally contributed paintings to decorate the walls of the new building. His example inspired many other contemporary British artists to donate works to this pioneering and philanthropic institution, creating the first British art gallery, The Foundling Hospital, which is now seen as the catalyst for the Royal Academy. At that time there was little exhibition space available for artists in London and the walls of the Hospital served this purpose. The rich and powerful were encouraged to come and view the pictures as well as the children, with the hope that they might commission works from one of the exhibiting artists and contribute to the work of the Hospital. George Frideric Handel also supported the Hospital's charitable work by giving benefit performances of his work in the Chapel. The collection was assembled 1739-1760 and features works by Hogarth, Rysbrack, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Roubiliac, Hudson, Ramsay and Wilson; apart from occasional gifts and occasional purchases the Museum does not actively seek to add to the collection | Source: | Cornucopia - Discovering UK Collections | Address: | 40 Brunswick Square
Bloomsbury London Great Britain (UK),
WC1N 1AZ | FAX: | 020 7841 3601 | Telephone: | 020 7841 3600 | Identifier: | oai:www.cornucopia.org.uk:5358 | Go to resource |
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