Tour of a German Artist in England

This two-volume account by a German painter of art collections in Britain was published in English translation in 1836.

This two-volume account by a German painter of his examination of art collections in Britain was published in this English translation in 1836. Covering works in the National Gallery and the royal collections as well as 'country seats' across England, it also provides an overview of collections not visited.The German artist Johann David Passavant (1787–1861) visited Britain in 1831 in order to examine works by Raphael in private and public galleries for a book he was preparing. He had not been able to find any helpful German accounts of British collections, and so decided to publish a narrative of his own travels and observations. The British writer and art critic Elizabeth Rigby (later Lady Eastlake) produced a two-volume translation in 1836, believing that English readers would benefit from Passavant's descriptions of little-known collections in their own country, as well as from his practitioner's response to the works themselves. Volume 2 begins with the duke of Marlborough's collection at Blenheim, and continues to cover Chatsworth, Althorpe, Holkham, and other 'country seats', finishing in Cambridge. Passavant also provides a catalogue of drawings at Buckingham Palace, a list of the pictures discussed, and an overview of collections not visited.