The Origins of the Grand Tour / 1649-1663 / The Travels of Robert Montagu, Lord Mandeville, William Hammond and Banaster Maynard

This study reconsiders the early origins of the cultural phenomenon known as the Grand Tour, which was rooted in the mid-Tudor and early-Stuart periods. It was prompted by practical needs, aesthetic allure, and political or religious exile and was stimulated by the English Civil War. The travel records of three young Englishmen have survived in various literary forms, and their experiences should be interpreted alongside the diverse collections of prints, engravings, curiosities, coins, and antiquities assembled by them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive study delves into the early origins of the cultural phenomenon known as the Grand Tour, a journey undertaken by young English individuals in Western Europe during the seventeenth century. In contrast to the renowned but maturely retrospective memoirs of other seventeenth-century figures such as John Evelyn, this study focuses on three previously unpublished accounts of youthful English travelers. By reassessing these accounts, the study seeks to shed light on the roots of the long-term English fascination with the Grand Tour.

Typically associated primarily with the post-Restoration and eighteenth-century era, the foundation of the enduring English fascination with the Grand Tour was firmly established in the mid-Tudor and early-Stuart periods. These travels were often motivated by one of three factors: the practical requirements of diplomacy, the aesthetic allure of cultural tourism, and the expediencies of political or religious exile. The outbreak of the English Civil War during the late-1640s provided a significant stimulus to this type of travel for male members of both royalist and parliamentarian families, serving as a means of distancing themselves from the social upheavals back home while also broadening their intellectual horizons.

The extensive editorial introductions to this publication offer valuable insights into the experiences of three young Englishmen who embarked on Grand Tours. These introductions examine how their travel records have survived in various literary forms, including personal diaries, family letters, and formal prose records. They also consider how these texts should be interpreted not in isolation but alongside the diverse collections of prints, engravings, curiosities, coins, and antiquities assembled by these travelers.

By exploring these previously unpublished accounts and examining the broader context of the Grand Tour, this study provides a fresh perspective on the early origins and evolution of this cultural phenomenon. It sheds light on the motivations, experiences, and impact of young English individuals on the shaping of European culture and society during the seventeenth century.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 165 x 239 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032319353