July 23, 2018

The Wallace Collection

1pm daily

City Music Foundation returns to The Wallace Collection for its third Summer Residency (23rd – 27th July).

2018 marks the 200th birthday of Sir Richard Wallace, whose widow, Lady Wallace, bequeathed the art collection and gallery (Hertford House) to the nation in 1897. Sir Richard was a prolific philanthropist who supported both the Arts and humanitarian causes throughout his life, as well as serving as an MP for Lisburn, Northern Ireland (1873-1885).

Wallace spent the majority of his life in Paris, including during the turbulent years between the fall of the Second Empire (1870) and the establishment of the Third Republic (1871); he was determined to stay and help his fellow Parisians. He is estimated to have contributed as much as 2.5 million francs (1870) to the needy during this time. For his efforts, he was awarded the Legion d’Honneur, the highest French honour for military and civil merits.

In 1871 Wallace inherited his father’s unentailed estates and extensive collection of European art, which he later expanded. He also redeveloped Hertford House, creating a range of galleries on the first floor, laying the ground for the public art gallery it is today.

This series will include five lunchtime concerts, each of which will feature music that reflects Wallace’s life and times.
All concerts are free and seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.