RAMM - Road to Rome

An exhibition exploring the history of the 18th-century grand tour from a personal, regional and national perspective.

The RAMM exhibition, The Road to Rome follows John Rolle Walter’s journey through Italy and explores the wider the history of the 18th century Grand Tour. Works from RAMM’s collection include paintings by artists with both Devon and Grand Tour connections, such as Thomas Patch and Francis Towne. It also features two masterful views of Venice by Canaletto on loan from the Royal Collection and a spectacular painting of Vesuvius in eruption by Joseph Wright of Derby from the Tate.

John Rolle Walter (1712-1779) inherited the Devon estates of Bicton and Stevenstone in 1750 and became a Member of Parliament for Exeter and the County of Devon. He travelled to Italy in 1752-53 and in Rome was painted by Pompeo Batoni, the greatest Italian portraitist of the 18th century. The RAMM has recently acquired the Batoni portrait with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Artfund and MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund.

The Heritage Lottery Fund-supported educational programme focuses upon the practice of landscape and portrait painting for Grand Tour patrons and includes early years, schools, family and adult workshops and lectures, as well as volunteer training.

The two photographs shown are copyrighted, and depict:-

Thomas Caryle 1867 photographed by Julia Margaret Cameron,
Royal Collection 2011 (c) HM Queen Elizabeth II

The Mouth of the Grand Canal Looking West towards the Carita by Canaletto 400519
The Royal Collection (c) 2011 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II