Grand Tour
A trip across Europe that rich young people took in the 1700s to learn about art and culture.
What is it?
The Grand Tour was a tradition for wealthy young men (and sometimes women) from Britain and other countries. They traveled to France, Italy, and other places to see ancient ruins, art, and meet important people. They often brought back paintings, sculptures, and souvenirs. Canaletto's paintings of Venice were popular Grand Tour souvenirs. The gondola parade painting you saw is the kind of painting a Grand Tourist might have bought to remember their visit.
Why it matters
The Grand Tour helped spread art styles and ideas across Europe. Many museums have objects that were brought back from these trips.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more objects related to the Grand Tour.