About

Two hundred years ago, in the founding year of Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution, Sir William Holburne embarked on a grand tour of Europe, lasting till 1825. This tour sparked his career as a collector, spanning 50 years.

Holburne came to be known as a respected collector of paintings, silverware, and the decorative arts, with many of his treasures forming the basis for Bath's Holburne Museum's impressive collection.

Join BRLSI in its bicentenary year to find out more about this eminent early supporter of BRLSI and his fascinating life in objects.

Hannah N Mills is an art historian specialising in 19th century British and Middle Eastern decorative arts and is the Assistant Curator of the Holburne Museum.