Hatfield House 1715 - 1805

Francesco Sesone made this print of Hatfield House in the 18th century. In it, we see a symmetrical facade, a carefully ordered garden, and figures who seem at ease in their surroundings. In many ways, this image reflects a culture of power and privilege, but it also hints at a changing world. The print was made in Italy, but it depicts a British estate. We might ask, why would an Italian artist be interested in an English country house? The answer lies in the rise of the Grand Tour, a cultural phenomenon in which wealthy Europeans, particularly the British, traveled to the continent to acquire art and refine their taste. This print, then, is not just a record of a building, but a document of cultural exchange and social aspiration. To understand it fully, we might consult travelogues, architectural histories, and even family papers to uncover the complex web of relationships that shaped its creation. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.