The Majesty of Rome in the 19th century

16-20 November 2018

Watts Gallery Patrons Tour

Introduction

In 1844, after almost a year in Italy, G F Watts went to Rome. He went with his friend Lord Holland. Together they visited key architectural sights. However, what they were most excited about was the Sistine Chapel and its ‘matchless’ ceiling. On this very special tour of Rome you will enjoy a privileged private tour of the city, culminating in a private view of the Sistine Chapel. You will visit a number of palaces and art collections privately in the company of one of Rome’s foremost historians.

Hotel

The 4-star Hotel dei Mellini is an independent hotel close to the banks of the River Tiber. All the rooms and suites are comfortable. The hotel is located in a quiet area, only a 10 to 15-minute walk from the historic centre of Rome. We have reserved superior rooms (approx. 25 sqm) for this tour.

Lecturer

The noted historian of Rome Anthony Majanlahti. Anthony is a Canadian who has lived in Rome for nearly 20 years. His book The Families Who Made Rome was a bestseller. He has written several academic books on Rome’s history and is a brilliant and engaging lecturer. He has just been engaged by the OUP to write a history of Rome.

Mobility

Rome is a city where reasonable mobility is essential. Several visits have to be done on foot because coaches cannot navigate the city centre and we will be doing a number of walks.

Day 1 / Friday 16 November London - Rome

9.20 Flight BA554 departs from London Heathrow to Rome (schedule subject to change)

1 Flight arrives at Rome FiumicinoTransfer by private coach to the Hotel dei Mellini

Anthony will give an introduction to the tour and its themes en route from the airport

Settle into the hotel

4 Orientation walk: across the bridge from the hotel lies the Mausoleum of Augustus where we will begin, followed by a walk through the ancient streets to the Pantheon Continue on foot

6 Private evening visit to the Palazzo Colonna: one of Rome’s greatest palaces left in private hands and this will be a ‘once in a lifetime’ private visit. There is an astounding collection of Old Masters, bronzetti, furniture, sculpture and some of Europe’s most sumptuous interiors, including 15th century ceilings by Pinturicchio. Tintoretto, Veronese, Carracci and Raphael are highlights

8 Dinner together

Return to the hotel by private transfer

Overnight at Hotel dei Mellini

Day 2 / Saturday 17 November Studio Museums of Rome

Today we explore 19th century Rome, conjuring the period of Watts’ visit and the art of the period. Our focus will be on small studio museums and spaces

8.30 Depart the hotel by private transfer

9 Quick visit to the Café Canova Tadolini: although today this is a café, it was originally an artist’s studio and is full of the original models and casts created by Canova and his pupil Tadolini - certainly one of Italy’s most unusual cafes!

Continue by private transfer

Visit the Museo Pietro Canonica: the small studio museum of Pietro Canonica, an important sculptor of the late 19th century famous for his society portraits. The museum is located in grounds of the Villa Borghese and incorporates his residence as well as his studio

Continue by private transfer

Coffee break at the British School at Rome followed by a tour (TBC)

1 Lunch together

Visit the National Gallery of Modern Art: this has a superb collection of 19th century art, including Canova’s Hercules & Lichas which was an epoch-changing sculpture. There are also important paintings by Rossetti, Monet, Hayez, Boldini

4.30 Return to the hotel and restIndependent evening and dinner

Overnight at Hotel dei Mellini

Day 3 / Sunday 18 November Renaissance Palaces & Free afternoon

Renaissance art made a huge impression on Watts during his long Italian trip, which began in 1843. Today will focus on the magnificent interiors and collections of some of Rome’s most important Renaissance palaces and you will also enjoy a walk that sets Renaissance Rome in architectural context

9 Depart the hotel by private transfer

Renaissance palaces walk: this will set Roman Renaissance palaces in context, sights Watts almost certainly walked around on his trip with Lord Holland. Begin at the Campo de Fiori, look at medieval houses and on to the Courtyard at the Cancelleria and see the exteriors of Palazzo Farnese and Palazzo Spada

Walk over the Ponte Sisto to the Farnesina Coffee break

Visit the Villa Farnesina: Raphael’s early frescoes for Agostino Chigi are a tour de force of Renaissance painting and were hugely influential on both palace interiors and European painting generally

1.30 Lunch together in Trastevere where many English 19th century travellers stayed Return to the hotel by private transfer or depart on foot independently

Afternoon at leisure

Independent evening and dinner

Overnight at Hotel dei Mellini

Day 4 / Monday 19 November Baroque Palaces of Rome & Vatican

Watts was introduced to an aristocratic circle in Italy, which gave him access to fascinating people and places. This morning we explore two palaces frequented by aristocratic visitors of the Grand Tour. In the afternoon we visit monuments to the English Grand Tour and the day finishes with a private evening visit to the Vatican to see the ‘matchless’ ceilings so admired by Watts and Holland

9 Depart the hotel by private transfer Quick visit to St Paul’s Within the Walls to see Rome’s only pre-Raphaelite monument Private visit to the Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini (not open to the public): here lie the great ceiling frescoes by Guido Reni, which were much admired during the Grand Tour. Guido Reni was one of the most popular artists in the 18th century and visitors would come to this palace especially to see his work, before going on to the Villa Ludovisi to compare it to the other 17th century master, Guercino

Private visit to the Villa Ludovisi (not open to the public): the ceilings by Guercino are magnificent and the villa also houses the only in situ fresco by Caravaggio

1 Independent lunch

Visit the Keats-Shelley Museum: the 19th century English Grand Tour is encapsulated here. The museum holds moving letters (including one written by G F Watts) and poems by the great Romantic poets Return to the hotel by private transfer and rest

6 Private evening visit to the Vatican Museums: this will be a once in a lifetime private visit to the Vatican with the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel on your own, not to mention the sculpture collections and Raphael Stanzas

Farewell dinner together

Overnight at Hotel dei Mellini 

Day 5 / Tuesday 20 November Rome - London

9.30 Depart the hotel by private transfer (with bags packed)

Visit the Palazzo Barberini: this is one of Rome’s greatest baroque palaces and highlights include Pietro da Cortona’s magnificent ceiling of the Apotheosis of the Barberini Family. There is a superb collection of paintings by Raphael and Caravaggio and other masters

11 Depart for the airport by private transfer

12 Check in for flight BA555

2.10 Flight departs (schedule subject to change)

3.55 Flights arrives at London Heathrow

End of services by Art Tours Ltd

Price: £2,275 Single Room Supplement: £235

Price without flights: £2,075

Price Includes:• 4 nights’ accommodation at 4* Hotel dei Mellini in superior rooms, including breakfast and taxes• British Airways return flights in economy class from Heathrow to Rome• The services of expert lecturer Anthony Majanlahti throughout• Private evening visit to the Palazzo Colonna• Private visit to the Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini• Private visit to the Villa Ludovisi • Private evening visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel• All transport by private coach as per the itinerary • Two dinners with three courses including wine, water and coffee• Two lunches with two courses including wine, water and coffee • The services of other on-site experts• All other admission costs as per the itinerary• Audio headsets for clear group listening • All tips and taxes • Full support from the Art Tours Office including personalised itinerary booklets, sightseeing notes, restaurant bookings and an emergency contact number

Price Excludes:• Two dinners and two lunches• Any personal expenditure How to BookPlease contact: Johanna Gaudot on +44 (0)207 449 9707 or johanna@arttoursltd.com

ART TOURS LTD, 2 Ordnance Mews, London, NW8 6PF. Jo will send you our booking form and will be delighted to answer any questions. If you would like to join the tour, please complete and return our Booking Form and send a 20% non-refundable deposit. Booking Forms can be returned by post or by email and must be returned to us with your signature before you travel. Your place is not confirmed until we have received both booking form and deposit and places are confirmed on a first come first served basis.

Deadline for bookingsPlease note we must receive all bookings by the 1 April 2018.

PaymentPayment can be accepted by Visa and Master Card. Deposits can also be made by cheque [made out to ‘Art Tours Ltd’] or by bank transfer into our sterling account. Our bank account is with: C. Hoare & Co, Account Number: 02261220, Sort Code: 15-99-00. Swift Code: HOABGB2L IBAN: GB53HOAB15990002261220.

Please make sure you include your surname and the tour reference in this case ‘Rome Watts’ with your payment.

Please Note• Tours are subject to a minimum number of participants. While we endeavour to run all tours, if the tour cannot go ahead due to insufficient numbers, or due to other factors beyond our control, then your deposit will be refunded. Please see our website and booking form for our full terms and conditions.

• Please note that we cannot refund the cost of flights that you have booked independently. British Airways flights are often subject to schedule changes and we will inform you as soon as possible of any changes.

• We will be delighted to book and/or advise on alternative travel arrangements before, during or after the tour and will help with upgrades, changes or extensions to your itinerary. Please note that the cost of alternative arrangements must be met by you in full and is subject to a service fee.

• You must have a valid passport and take out full travel insurance to cover all aspects of your holiday and it is part of our terms and conditions that you do so. This insurance should be activated from the point of holiday confirmation and should cover all emergency and medical care, cancellation and repatriation costs and ideally your luggage and personal possessions.

ART TOURS LTDArt Tours Ltd is a leading specialist in cultural travel design for museums, art collectors and friends and family coming together for the trip of a lifetime. We create bespoke itineraries sourcing the finest experts, providing exceptional experiences and offering new and thrilling perspectives. Art Tours Ltd is based in London and was founded in 2008 by Oxford graduate and Courtauld trained art historian James McDonaugh. James and his team look after a select group of clients worldwide.