Now open at Goodwood House, HerStory: Women of Goodwood is a celebration of women both past and present from across the estate.
Featuring Louise de Keroualle, favourite mistress of King Charles II, Charlotte, Duchess of Richmond, who hosted the famous Waterloo Ball and Hilda, Duchess of Richmond, who saved the Goodwood Estate in the 20th century after crippling death duties, the exhibition presents gowns, artworks, historic photographs and documents detailing the stories of these women – plus many more.
Highlights include:
- A letter written by King Charles II to Louise de Keroualle, in which he writes, ‘I love you better than all the world…’, with the King’s wax seal bearing their entwined initials ‘CL’.
- A portrait of Mary, Duchess of Richmond by Angelica Kauffman, 1775. Mary was married to the 3rdDuke of Richmond, and is shown wearing the then fashionable Turkish attire.
- A green fan used at the famous Waterloo Ball in 1815 hosted by Charlotte, Duchess of Richmond – the ball is dubbed the most famous ball in history and took place just a few days before the Battle of Waterloo.
- A silver plate breakfasted off by Napoleon on the morning of the Battle of Waterloo presented to Charlotte, Duchess of Richmond after the Battle of Waterloo for keeping morale high in Brussels by hosting the famous Waterloo Ball.
Clementine de la Poer Beresford, Curator of the Goodwood Collection and of this year’s exhibition said: “We have some wonderful stories to tell; these women have been decisively at the forefront of Goodwood’s long and rich history, inspiring not only the current Duke and Duchess and their family, but all the people who work across the estate year-round.”
HerStory: Women of Goodwood is now open to visitors on all Open Days, which take place on Mondays and Sundays. For further information and to book tickets goodwood.com
Image: Installation view of HerStory: Women of Goodwood credit Johnathan Swann
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