Eton College Collections facts for kids
The Eton College Collections are a super cool group of important items kept at Eton College in England. Think of them like a giant treasure chest filled with amazing things! These collections include the College Library, College Archives, the Eton College Natural History Museum, Casa Guidi, the Eton College Antiquities Collection, and the Museum of Eton Life. There are also hundreds of old photos, paintings, drawings, and prints. Many of these special items are even loaned out to exhibitions all over the world for everyone to see.
Contents
Discovering the College Library
The College Library is a special place found in the old cloisters of Eton College. It's different from the regular school library. This library is open to people from Eton and also to researchers from outside, but they need an appointment.
What's Inside the Library?
This library holds very rare books and old handwritten documents that are incredibly valuable. Imagine seeing a real Gutenberg Bible or pages from Charles Darwin's famous book, Origin of Species!
Library Services for Visitors
The library has a special room for researchers to study. They also offer help with finding information, support for teaching at the college, and host visits for groups and other schools. You can often see new exhibitions there, and they can even make copies of documents.
Exploring the College Archives
The College Archives are like a time capsule! They keep many important documents about Eton College from the very beginning, when it was founded.
Who Went to Eton?
These archives also have lists of all the boys who have attended Eton. For a long time, until the late 1800s, only the special students called King's Scholars were listed.
Amazing Art at Eton College
Eton College has a fantastic collection of fine and decorative art that goes back to the school's very first century.
Early Art and Decorations
Some of the earliest art includes beautiful wall paintings inside the Eton College Chapel. There are also two benches carved with the symbol of the Tudor rose, which are still used today!
Types of Art in the Collection
The collection features many different kinds of art, such as paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, furniture, stained glass, and textiles.
Famous Portraits and Drawings
A big part of the collection is the oil portraits, especially the "Leaving Portraits." These were painted by famous artists like Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West, and Sir Thomas Lawrence in the 1700s and 1800s. More recent examples include works by Derek Hill and Andrew Festing. The collection also has about 1,500 drawings and watercolours by well-known artists like Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Girtin, J. M. W. Turner, and Samuel Palmer.
Eton College Natural History Museum
The Eton College Natural History Museum is a cool place run by Eton College. It's free to visit during its opening hours!
What You'll See at the Museum
Inside, you'll find thousands of stuffed animals, plants, fossils, and insects. It's a great spot to learn about nature and history.
Museum Location and Hours
The museum is located near the archway into the Queens Quad, right next to Lower Chapel. It's open only when students are at the college during term-time.
The Museum of Eton Life
The Museum of Eton Life tells the story of Eton College and its students since the school started way back in 1440.
Exploring Eton's History
This museum has artifacts and souvenirs that show the history and traditions of the school. You can see displays about famous people who went to Eton, how students studied, games like the Eton Wall Game, uniforms, and other customs. It was started by a former teacher named Peter Lawrence.
Casa Guidi: A Literary Home
Casa Guidi is a small house in Florence, Italy. It was once owned and lived in by two famous poets, Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It's a special part of the Eton College Collections because of its historical and literary importance.
