ALICE DE ROTHSCHILD

Alice de Rothschild in fancy dress, Circa 1870	Caremolo Modrono; Burgonet; 1534-1536	Alice de Rothschild, Circa 1870

The chance discovery of a set of receipts for purchases of works of art has inspired another exhibition in the House, looking at Alice de Rothschild both as a collector and as the chatelaine of a great estate. She inherited the Manor from her brother in 1898 and through a combination of iron will, enormous attention to detail and draconian housekeeping rules, ensured its preservation for the future. She not only added to the collections, but her passion for gardening lead her to create two of the finest late Victorian gardens of their time. One was at Waddesdon, another was at her house in Grasse in the South of France, the Villa Victoria where she entertained many visitors including the Queen. Highlights in the exhibition include letters from Alice to her Head Gardener, Johnson, one of her sketchbooks and some of the key pieces from her arms and armour collection.