The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, the UK's first children's charity and first public art gallery. The Foundling Museum explores the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and first public art gallery.
Through a dynamic programme of exhibitions and events, we celebrate the ways in which artists and children have inspired each other for over 275 years. Discover the intriguing story behind this important London institution and the children who grew up there, alongside original period interiors, poignant artefacts and inspiring art. Pick up a unique, artist-designed souvenir in our Shop, or relax in our Café, offering a delicious selection of teas, coffees, cakes and light lunches. To keep up to date with our latest exhibitions, events and more join our mailing list: https://goo.gl/AMBqsa
Temporarily closed
'I wonder what this woman's backstory is...' Read Museum volunteer Bridget's first paragraph of her draft novel, Paris 1856, inspired by this painting. #foundlingsharedstories http://ow.ly/wySl50Etbki
'I wonder what this woman's backstory is...' Read Museum volunteer Bridget's first paragraph of her draft novel, Paris 1856, inspired by this painting. #foundlingsharedstories http://ow.ly/wySl50Etbki
'I wonder what this woman's backstory is...'
Read Museum volunteer Bridget's first paragraph of her draft novel, Paris 1856, inspired by this painting.
"It is dusk. A young woman walks slowly towards the imposing entrance to L’Hospice des Enfants Trouvés, the Paris Foundling Hospital, on the aptly named Rue d’Enfer (Street of Hell )" #foundlingsharedstories
http://ow.ly/ewkA50Etco1
'I wonder what this woman's backstory is...'
Read Museum volunteer Bridget's first paragraph of her draft novel, Paris 1856, inspired by this painting.
"It is dusk. A young woman walks slowly towards the imposing entrance to L’Hospice des Enfants Trouvés, the Paris Foundling Hospital, on the aptly named Rue d’Enfer (Street of Hell )" #foundlingsharedstories
http://ow.ly/ewkA50Etco1
On Tuesday 27 April, see the online premiere of a short film exploring objects from our exhibition #PortrayingPregnancy, featuring its curator Karen Hearn. Get your tickets now at http://ow.ly/Si2D50EqiiL
On Tuesday 27 April, see the online premiere of a short film exploring objects from our exhibition #PortrayingPregnancy, featuring its curator Karen Hearn. Get your tickets now at http://ow.ly/Si2D50EqiiL
As part of #foundlingsharedstories, hear the stories of some of the last remaining residents of the Foundling Hospital - the former pupils.
The former pupils were the final generation to experience residential care at the Foundling Hospital, who are now in their 80s. This projects gives them a chance to voice their unheard stories through the objects that speak to them. https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/collections/shared-stories/ Museums Association
As part of #foundlingsharedstories, hear the stories of some of the last remaining residents of the Foundling Hospital - the former pupils.
The former pupils were the final generation to experience residential care at the Foundling Hospital, who are now in their 80s. This projects gives them a chance to voice their unheard stories through the objects that speak to them. https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/collections/shared-stories/ Museums Association
Next Wednesday join us online to hear about fictional and real occurrences of pregnancy in the Thespian world of around 1700, with researcher Anita Sikora. It's free, but booking is essential. Get your place now at http://ow.ly/4GJY50Eqezq
Next Wednesday join us online to hear about fictional and real occurrences of pregnancy in the Thespian world of around 1700, with researcher Anita Sikora. It's free, but booking is essential. Get your place now at http://ow.ly/4GJY50Eqezq
LAUNCHED TODAY! After months of closure due to national lockdowns, we're excited to introduce you to Shared Stories, Shared Voices. You can now explore from home an online collection of highly personal responses to objects from our Collection, made by people who have a deep connection with the stories they tell.
Hear from the communities at the heart of the Museum’s life, our volunteers, care-experienced trainees and graduates of our Tracing Our Tales programme, and the former pupils of the Foundling Hospital.
Be the first to visit online! Explore the full collection on the new dedicated area of our website. #foundlingsharedstories
This project has been made possible by a grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, delivered by the @MuseumsAssoc.
https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/collections/shared-stories.
Today marks the 275th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden. Hogarth's The March of the Guards depicts London during the 1746 Jacobite Rebellion. In the foreground soldiers are seen at the Tottenham Court Road turnpike and in the distance troops are shown on the Hampstead Road.
Today marks the 275th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden. Hogarth's The March of the Guards depicts London during the 1746 Jacobite Rebellion. In the foreground soldiers are seen at the Tottenham Court Road turnpike and in the distance troops are shown on the Hampstead Road.
This #token is a small, pink and white cameo, showing a woman in profile facing left, with a piece of discoloured ribbon attached to it. #TokenThursday
This #token is a small, pink and white cameo, showing a woman in profile facing left, with a piece of discoloured ribbon attached to it. #TokenThursday
#OnThisDay in 1759 Handel died. Here is a detail of the last page of his will, which lists bequests to various friends and neighbours, and was signed three days before he died.
#OnThisDay in 1759 Handel died. Here is a detail of the last page of his will, which lists bequests to various friends and neighbours, and was signed three days before he died.
Bring the Foundling Museum to your home for your online meetings and chats with our selection of backgrounds for Zoom, and learn some fun facts about the images available. http://ow.ly/LYpD50EjRJ4
Bring the Foundling Museum to your home for your online meetings and chats with our selection of backgrounds for Zoom, and learn some fun facts about the images available. http://ow.ly/LYpD50EjRJ4
Let Coco, 10 from Birmingham, brighten up your weekend with her cheery addition to #covidletters. ow.ly/J5nl50DXrBl Arts Council England
Let Coco, 10 from Birmingham, brighten up your weekend with her cheery addition to #covidletters. ow.ly/J5nl50DXrBl Arts Council England
As a museum dedicated to working with young people, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen, to our Royal Patron The Duchess of Cambridge, and to all the royal family, on the death of Prince Philip.
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s commitment to young people was exemplified by The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which since 1956, has enhanced and transformed the lives of many thousands of young people. This remarkable achievement will stand as a lasting legacy to his service as the country’s longest serving consort.
How does winning £100 of @Love2shopOfficial vouchers sound?
The last 12 months have resulted in us shifting more of our attention to creating online content, and that has got us thinking about how we engage with you all digitally. If you have five minutes to complete this survey it will help us to understand what we can do to improve the experience we are offering - and will be very much appreciated. http://ow.ly/3noj50EjtAz
Anything you tell us will be kept confidential, is anonymous and will only be used for research purposes. The information you provide will be held by us and The Audience Agency, who are running the survey on our behalf. In compliance with GDPR, your data will be stored securely and will only be used for the purposes it was given.
To be entered into the prize draw please submit your email address at the end of the survey. The one winner of the prize will be contacted on Monday 17 May by email.
How does winning £100 of @Love2shopOfficial vouchers sound?
The last 12 months have resulted in us shifting more of our attention to creating online content, and that has got us thinking about how we engage with you all digitally. If you have five minutes to complete this survey it will help us to understand what we can do to improve the experience we are offering - and will be very much appreciated. http://ow.ly/3noj50EjtAz
Anything you tell us will be kept confidential, is anonymous and will only be used for research purposes. The information you provide will be held by us and The Audience Agency, who are running the survey on our behalf. In compliance with GDPR, your data will be stored securely and will only be used for the purposes it was given.
To be entered into the prize draw please submit your email address at the end of the survey. The one winner of the prize will be contacted on Monday 17 May by email.
Guesses on what object this token is? #TokenThursday
Guesses on what object this token is? #TokenThursday
Lovely to see Laurence Cummings at the helm for this abridged performance. He’s performed for us several times at The Foundling Museum as part of our friends, the London Handel Festival.
And how appropriate that it should have been the fine chorus of English National Opera singing, when the London premiere of Messiah was also given in a theatre, before it became a regular feature of the Foundling Hospital calendar to raise money for the organisation.
Handel’s masterpiece, performed by the English National Opera for audiences at home.
If you missed the live online talk about children of the Foundling Hospital who were listed as unable to be apprenticed in the eighteenth century, you can now hear it at http://ow.ly/Posq50Ehpwf
If you missed the live online talk about children of the Foundling Hospital who were listed as unable to be apprenticed in the eighteenth century, you can now hear it at http://ow.ly/Posq50Ehpwf
Not sure what to do with a glut of chocolate? Why not have fun making some Easter nests with the family. http://ow.ly/tdmB50EepHS
Not sure what to do with a glut of chocolate? Why not have fun making some Easter nests with the family. http://ow.ly/tdmB50EepHS
Handel’s Messiah, which premiered during 1742 Easter celebrations, became popular after his annual performances at the Foundling Hospital, becoming the nation’s favourite oratorio. Here is the famous bass aria ‘The trumpet shall sound’ from the original performing score in the Hospital archives.
Handel’s Messiah, which premiered during 1742 Easter celebrations, became popular after his annual performances at the Foundling Hospital, becoming the nation’s favourite oratorio. Here is the famous bass aria ‘The trumpet shall sound’ from the original performing score in the Hospital archives.
Our Foundling Fellowships let creative individuals animate the relationship between philanthropy, creativity & children’s welfare. Each Fellow creates a project to involve young people & contribute to the work of the Museum http://ow.ly/6Jb450Ec3y2 #MyLocalMuseum #CreativePeople
Today and for future tomorrows the @FoundlingMuseum is #HereForCulture thanks to funding awarded by the @Department for Digital, Media, Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural Recovery Fund. Giving vital support to our organisation and its work during these difficult times.
You can find out more about what this funding means to us on our website http://ow.ly/K08d50Eeumz
This 1753 brass calendar medal, made by John Powell of Birmingham, shows the corresponding phases of the moon. #TokenTursday
Have you been caught out by #AprilFools today? This political satire shows men rehearsing their singing for the coronation of King George IV. The texts they hold read ‘Disappoint us no more’ & ‘On Sunday April 1st 1821 to be sung,.. a fine coronation anthem improved from Handel’.
William Hogarth and George Frideric Handel helped establish the Foundling Hospital as one of London’s most fashionable venues.
Hogarth encouraged leading artists of the day to donate work, thereby establishing the UK’s first public art gallery, and Handel donated an organ and conducted annual benefit concerts of Messiah in the Hospital’s chapel.
Their creative generosity set the template for the ways in which the arts can support philanthropy. #MyLocalMuseum #CreativePeople
It was #OnThisDay in 1751 that Thomas Coram died, aged 83. He was then buried in April beneath the Foundling Hospital chapel altar.
The NHS has been a superhero to many, especially over this past year. This #covidletters work by Max, 14, shows what the superhero form might look like, alongside a rather friendly looking version of the virus! ow.ly/J5nl50DXrBl Arts Council England
#DidYouKnow the churchyard at St John's Church, Hampstead, has Foundling Hospital links? Here's the grave of William Harrison, Foundling Hospital Governor and music teacher. He was the son of John Harrison - a clockmaker and inventor of the timekeeper for ascertaining longitude.
The Foundling Hospital Anthem was composed by Handel in 1749. It was written especially for the Foundling Hospital and was first performed in the chapel there. It was Handel's last piece of English church music. #MyLocalMuseum #TalesFromLongAgo.
This is a Spanish coin from the reign of Philip V. One side has been completely smoothed and engraved with 'born March 25 1759 half an hour past one noon'. #TokenThursday
Until 1752 the legal year in England began on 25 March Lady Day, the feast of the Annunciation. Before this change to the Gregorian calendar, already in use in Europe and Scotland, the confusion of different dating systems led to dates often being written with both years, as in this letter from Handel’s librettist Charles Jennens, written in March 1745/6.
#OnThisDay in 1741 the first 30 babies were admitted to the Foundling Hospital in the evening.
Today at 17:00 tune in to Channel 2 on www.nts.live for the radio show 'Up the beanstalk: The Travelling Players'. 20 artists from #covidletters read from some of their favourite books and poems, and answer questions about what life has been like over lockdown.
This week's #MyLocalMuseum theme is #TalesFromLongAgo. Our local hero is Thomas Coram! After 17 years of campaigning he finally received a Royal Charter in 1739 enabling him to establish his Foundling Hospital to care for and educate some of London’s most vulnerable citizens.
This archive photo shows a scene from a summer camp, where girls with kitchen staff are racing with kitchen pots, while two boys play the bugle. #mylocalmuseum #sports
Next Wednesday, listen online via Zoom to volunteer Thomas Aird as he speaks about children of the Foundling Hospital who were listed as unable to be apprenticed in the eighteenth century. This talk is free, but must be booked ahead. http://ow.ly/4jUv50E3piY
Watch this talk online now and find out how Handel supported the Foundling Hospital in his lifetime and beyond, with benefit concerts and a valuable legacy. https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk/events/talk-handel-hospital/
40 Brunswick Square
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WC1N 1AZ
TUBE: Russell Square // King's Cross St. Pancras // Euston TRAIN: King's Cross St Pancras International // Euston
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Until 28 March, discover the life and work of Richard Leveridge, a leading singer on the 18th-century London stage, in this Handel Gallery display. In this short film with Katharine Hogg, Gerald Coke Handel Collection Librarian, view a glimpse of the Museum display.
Do you remember our installation Exchange? Did you keep one of the cups and do a good deed? If so, let us know! Share photos of the cup you received and tell us about your deed. Learn more about our #kindnesscup campaign by watching the film below... Arts Council England
In 2013, we hosted Exchange, a site-specific installation. Leading ceramic artist Clare Twomey inscribed individual good deeds onto over 1,000 cups and saucers, encouraging visitors to undertake a good deed in exchange for keeping the cup. During lockdown, the Museum received an email from one of the recipients of a cup to say she’d finally completed her good deed. During a time when the country was rooting for the NHS and other unsung heroes, the team decided to revisit the exhibition and rekindle it in a digital format. When lockdown started to ease, Clare Twomey, alongside the Museum's Director Caro Howell, made this short film introducing our new #kindnesscup campaign. Watch the film, have a cup of your favourite drink, and think about what kind thing you’re going to do. When you’ve done it, tag 3 friends and pass on the #kindnesscup. Arts Council England
Are you looking for activities to do with the kids over the summer holidays? As we're not currently running workshops at the Museum, we've created a range of online art activities so you can get creative at home. From printmaking to games, there's something for everyone. Keep an eye on our website or follow us on Instagram for new activities each week. Find the whole range here: http://ow.ly/8AXU50AXl6R Happy making!
We're happy to be able to welcome people back to the Museum from this Wednesday! Pre-book for entry to #PortrayingPregnancy and the Museum in general. http://ow.ly/VCST50AmI9T
Photographer Karolina Heller visited us shortly before lockdown and produced this lovely, short video showcasing the Museum.
To celebrate #MuseumFromHome, here's a family activity from our learning department that you can do in the comfort of your own home.
If you find yourself running low on toilet paper during this time, why not take a tip from our #TwoLastNights exhibition. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, theatre performances lasted several hours without intervals and toilet provision was almost non-existent and limited at best. Toilet paper is not mentioned in any surviving theatre accounts, although it was certainly in use. Known as ‘bum-fodder’ (now contracted to the word ‘bumf, meaning ‘paperwork’), it may have been accounted for in general bills for goods and services. It has also been suggested that the lack of surviving programmes could be due to their having been used for this purpose during performances!
This monumental work by Jenny Saville features in #PortrayingPregnancy. Saville is interested ‘in the physical power a large female body has – [someone] who occupies a lot of space, but who’s also acutely aware that contemporary culture encourages her to disguise her bulk and look as small as possible.’ Learn more about this exhibition here: http://bit.ly/2FwERso Image thanks to Jenny Saville. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates. Courtesy the artist and Gagosian
Marcus Gheeraerts II, leading 16th-century court painter, was known as a specialist in pregnancy portraits as examples survive from throughout his career. His 'The Unknown Lady in Red' of 1620 is an outstanding portrait that includes the very well observed gesture of the woman’s hand resting over her bump. Learn more about pregnancy in art in our exhibition #PortrayingPregnancy until 26 April. http://bit.ly/2FwERso Image thanks to Tate
This fine needlework panel of embracing female figures appears, from the fashion of the women’s headwear, to date from around the second decade of the 17th century. It's composed of glass beads, metal threads, floss and overspun silk threads, spangles and padding, using a range of stitches on plain-weave undyed linen. Its early history is unknown, but it is highly likely to represent the Visitation, making it another very rare post-Reformation English rendition of the subject. See this work in our exhibition #PortrayingPregnancy http://bit.ly/2FwERso Image thanks to the Ashmolean Museum.
#PortrayingPregnancy is now open! Until 26 April explore paintings, prints, photographs, objects and clothing from the fifteenth century to the present day, and discover the different ways in which pregnancy was, or was not, represented. http://bit.ly/2FwERso Images thanks to Ghislaine Howard, Finch & Co, Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation, Tate.
This Friday sees the opening of #PortrayingPregnancy, an exhibition that brings together images of women – mainly British – who were depicted at a time when they were pregnant. http://bit.ly/2s4mE2i Images courtesy of Ashmolean Museum, Chantal Joffe, Yale British Art.
It's not long until our next exhibition opens. See #PortrayingPregnancy from 24 January and explore representations of the pregnant female body through portraits, over 500 years. http://bit.ly/2FwERso Image: G H Harlow, Sarah Siddons as Lady Macbeth courtesy of the Garrick Club, London
Get your glad rags on and come to the show. Join us for #TwoLastNights and explore the world of theatre and shows in eighteenth century Britain. http://ow.ly/GW1W50xtKTG
How well behaved are you at the theatre? Learn about the raucous activities of theatre-goers in the eighteenth century in our exhibition #TwoLastNights http://bit.ly/2K8A5mV
Just over a week until the opening of #TwoLastNights! Look forward to this exhibition about going to the theatre and shows in eighteenth century Britain. Opens Friday 20 September. http://bit.ly/2K8A5mV
It's not long until curtains up for our new exhibition, #TwoLastNights, opening 20 September, where you can delve into the mechanics of theatre and concert going in eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain. http://bit.ly/2K8A5mV
It's the last week of our exhibition #HogarthArtofNoise and display #ANewSongAnOldTune. Closing 1 September, it's your last chance to explore Hogarth’s innovative use of sound in his art as well as Nicola Bealing's contemporary humorous works.
Experience Nicola Bealing's vibrant and b***y works in our display #ANewSongAnOldTune and see her humorous interpretations of 18th-century broadside ballads in both print and painting. http://bit.ly/2vnAPh9
The Foundling Museum explores the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and first public art gallery. Through a dynamic programme of exhibitions and events, we celebrate the ways in which artists and children have inspired each other for over 275 years. Discover the intriguing story behind this important London institution and the children who grew up there, alongside original period interiors, poignant artefacts and inspiring art. Make the most of your visit by hiring a guide, picking up a unique artist-designed souvenir in our Shop, or attending one of our many events from free lunchtime concerts to curator-led tours.
To keep up to date with our latest exhibitions, events and more join our mailing list: https://goo.gl/AMBqsa
Threads of Feeling Fate, Hope & Charity
40 Brunswick SquareBritish Museum of Natural history
Great Russell Street, Londra, WC1, Inghilterra
The Last Tuesday Society & The Viktor Wynd Mu
11 Mare Street