Travel online to an art lover's paradise

While it may seem surprising to find full-length portraits by Gainsborough, Reynolds and Romney dominating Waddesdon’s reception rooms, otherwise decorated entirely with French objects, they demonstrate Baron Ferdinand’s taste for 18th-century British portraiture. Genre and landscape paintings by 17th-century Dutch Golden Age masters also form a significant part of Waddesdon’s rich collection of over 300 paintings, reflecting an established family interest.

Browse online >

Waddesdon is renowned internationally for its significant collection of 18th-century French Vincennes and Sèvres porcelain. It includes some of the most iconic shapes of vases, decorated by the factory’s best painters, and three dinner services, one of which was made for Marie-Antoinette. Pieces by the German Meissen factory include two extraordinary life-size animal porcelain figures and a rare standing cup as well as a collection of small animal figures and useful wares.

Browse online >

Among the wealth of French 18th-century furniture at Waddesdon, the star pieces are those made for Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette and the French royal family by Riesener, as well as Louis XVI’s desk from his study at Versailles by Benneman. Cabinets and desks in marquetry and lacquer are by other important 18th-century French cabinetmakers (Cressent, BVRB, Dubois and Lacroix). Examples by René Dubois and Grandjean are in lacquered vernis Martin. Furniture decorated with Sèvres porcelain plaques by Carlin and Lacroix forms a significant group.

Browse online >

Baron Ferdinand’s library of principally French 17th- and 18th-century books is a fluid extension of his art collection. The 800 books reflect his interests as a refined connoisseur and amateur historian. Not interested in first editions or rare texts, he collected instead books with a distinguished provenance, those with magnificent bindings and ones illustrated by celebrated artists. Many of these also related to his interest in the history of this period, documenting social culture, costume, travel, architecture and, in particular, royal entertainments and ceremonies.

Browse books, manuscripts and portfolios >

Discover a different side of Waddesdon with an online roam of our contemporary art and architecture. Windmill Hill Archive and the award-winning Flint House offer work by Anish Kapoor, Edmund de Waal, Sarah Lucas, Julian Opie and even a site-specific commission by Richard Long. Whereas our contemporary sculpture includes Lafite, our two giant candlesticks by Joana Vasconcelos, adorned with  Château Lafite Rothschild wine bottles, and Le Carrosse by Xavier Veilhan depicting a red charging horse-drawn carriage.

Browse contemporary art & architecture >