Join this one-day symposium to explore similarities in the origins, artistic involvement and philanthropic purpose of the Foundling Hospital and the Greenwich Royal Hospital for Seamen
9:30-18:00
Tickets £50, £40 concessions & Foundling Friends
Morning, Queen’s House, Royal Museums Greenwich and the Old Royal Naval College; afternoon, Foundling Museum. Participants will make their own way between the two sites.
The Foundling Hospital and the Greenwich Royal Hospital are eighteenth-century institutions with many similarities, both charitable hospitals with strong ties to maritime Britain. The Foundling Hospital was the first children’s charity in Britain, established by Royal Charter in 1739 by Captain Thomas Coram, a shipwright in the American colonies. The Royal Hospital for Seamen, Greenwich, was established by Royal Charter in 1694 and from 1712 also incorporated a naval school. Along with presentations and discussion with expert speakers, the day includes:
- A tour of the Chapel at the Old Royal Naval College, formerly the place of worship for the inhabitants of the Royal Hospital for Seamen.
- The opportunity to see our historic Court Room and Picture Gallery, displaying works of art by Hogarth, Gainsborough, Highmore, Ramsay and many others.
- A visit to our exhibition Basic Instincts.
- Lunch, tea and coffee, and early evening drinks reception.
Speakers include: Will Palin, Director of Conservation, ORNC; Christine Riding, Head of Arts and Curator of the Queen’s House; Caro Howell, Director of the Foundling Museum; and Dr Jacqueline Riding, Honorary Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London, and Curator of the exhibition Basic Instincts.
In partnership with Royal Museums Greenwich.