Birds and beasts
Online talk Wed 31 Mar 2021
7pm
OnlineIn this live online talk, join landscape historian and Waddesdon Gardens’ archivist Sophie Piebenga, as she discusses the fashion for keeping birds and beasts in the late 19th century.
Like other members of his family, Ferdinand de Rothschild kept ‘exotic’ animals in the gardens at Waddesdon. They included mostly birds and waterfowl, but also kangaroos, emus and deer. The hugely ornamental Aviary has since been restored to its full glory while its original function has been very successfully expanded as a centre for conservation breeding.
Little remains of Ferdinand’s ‘zoo’ though contemporary descriptions give an idea of the delight and wonder it provoked in his guests staying at the Manor. The Aviary and its colourful songbirds continue to delight visitors today.
Landscape historian and Waddesdon Gardens’ archivist Sophie Piebenga, will discuss the fashion for keeping birds and beasts and housing them in evermore opulent constructions, popular with members of the Rothschild family in the late 19th century.
A zoom link will be emailed to you 24 hours before the event.
Students: please email enquiries@waddesdon.org.uk from your academic email to register for a free place.