A Hidden Gem - The Foundling Museum

London is full of Hidden Gems. In fact, there are so many it becomes overwhelming trying to prioritize which ones to see.   

 

The Foundling Museum is one of those gems.

Back in the 1700's London was a tough place to live for many people. Unfortunately, out of desperation, many babies and young children were abandoned.

Thomas Coram was appalled seeing young children working and dying alone in the streets of London. He campaigned for 17 years to obtain a Royal Charter to open The Foundling Hospital. He was also able to convince several well-heeled aristocratic women to support his vision. 

The Foundling Hospital opened in 1841. Over the next 275 years the Hospital cared for and educated 25,000 abandoned children. 

The really fascinating part of the story is that there were two significant artists helping Coram achieve his dream. They were the artist William Hogarth and the musician George Frideric Handel. 

YES! William Hogarth! AND George Handel of Handel's Messiah!

Between the 3 of them they set the template for arts supporting charities. Its success was based on a symbiotic relationship.

William Hogarth wanted to establish himself as an artist and needed a gallery to display his work. Since the Hospital was frequented by wealthy aristocrats it served as a perfect venue to showcase directly to his target market. 

But significantly, he also encouraged other leading and aspiring British artists of the day to donate their work to hang in the Hospital. By doing this, Hogarth established the UK’s first public art gallery. 

Many people whose pictures are still hanging in the Foundling Museum today include Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Joshua Reynolds!

And what did George Frideric Handel do you ask? 

He donated an organ and conducted annual benefit concerts. 

Handel performed The Messiah for the first time in England in the Foundling Hospital to raise money for the chapel!

Handel also became a governor of the Foundling Hospital and performed concerts there every year, up until 2 weeks before he died, for a total of 10 concerts. 

The museum houses the largest collection of privately held Handel material and a bust of Handel by one of the foremost sculptors of the day, Roubiliac. 

The hospital closed in 1954 as social services and the philosophy for raising children changed. The hospital was replaced by the Foundling Museum which provides a venue for incredible artwork that is the envy of many galleries. 

"Coram" charity continues to help vulnerable children, young people and their families.

A Hidden Gem worth straying off the beaten path to find.