The "Farnese Flora" at Stourhead 

Samuel Woodforde made this drawing of the "Farnese Flora" at Stourhead using graphite and white chalk on blue paper. Woodforde's "Farnese Flora" reflects the 18th-century obsession with classical antiquity and its role in shaping contemporary taste and artistic practice. This drawing exemplifies the Grand Tour tradition, where artists like Woodforde traveled to Italy to study and copy classical sculptures, such as the "Farnese Flora," in order to refine their skills. It demonstrates the cultural authority that ancient art held in shaping artistic education and aesthetic ideals in Britain. English aristocrats frequently bought ancient statues on their Grand Tours. They brought these pieces back to their country estates, such as Stourhead, where they became the centrepieces of picturesque gardens. The statue and Woodforde's sketch of it, serve as symbols of wealth and cultural sophistication. To better understand Woodforde's drawing, we might research the history of Stourhead, the Grand Tour, and the reception of classical art in 18th-century Britain. This allows us to interpret its social and institutional context.