My England:
Financier, collector and philanthropist the 4th Baron Rothschild shares thoughts on his native land
England’s loveliest spot is Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire, the property which I help to look after. It is astonishing that in a property so close to London there should be such beautiful, uninterrupted and uncluttered views of the countryside. I love its eccentricity as well as the astonishing range and variety of the Waddesdon collection.
My most treasured possession at Waddesdon is Chardin’s Boy Building a House of Cards .The painting was acquired to complement the French 18th-century paintings at Waddesdon Manor in 2007. It is certainly one of the most beautiful paintings by Chardin, with layers of meaning around the subject of the house of cards and the nature of childhood and adolescence. Tragically during World War II some 20
Chardins belonging to the Rothschild family were taken to a place in Bath for safekeeping, but the building was bombed and all the paintings lost. The acquisition presented a wonderful opportunity to recreate the link between Chardin and our family, and to see this painting in the context of Waddesdon.
I find it too hard to single out my favourite artist for I love so many, but the collection at Waddesdon contains a number of Gainsborough’s most beautiful works of art. He epitomises so much of what I love about 18th-century England. I am also a big fan of Joana Vasconcelos, whose major new piece, Wedding Cake, will be installed at Waddesdon in the autumn.
The philanthropic project I’m most proud of is Somerset House. At the time I was Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Somerset House was occupied by the Inland Revenue, the Law Courts and King’s College. The car park was full of the Inland
Revenue’s cars. In no small measure thanks to the gift from the Gilbert Collection, we were able to persuade the Inland Revenue and Law Courts to move and today Somerset House, perhaps the most beautiful building of its type in London, attracts an amazing number of visitors. The ice-skating rink, with which I was closely involved, has become one of the icons of London’s winter life.
If I moved away from England, what I’d miss most is my roots, family and friends.
The best thing about getting older is having retired from active business life, I can now spend more time at Waddesdon where my ambition is to help create a future that is as interesting as its past. We are committed to making a contribution in the areas of climate change, nature conservancy and the future of farming.
If I could invite anyone to dinner from the past, it would be Isaiah Berlin, whom I was fortunate enough to have been mentored by at Oxford. I miss his conversations every day. He became a great friend.
Jonathan Sacks sent me a copy of his book Morality, which I am currently reading and learning a great deal from.
If I were to sum up England in three words, I’d say home, beauty and bravery.
I’m at my happiest when spending time with my family, and over the last 50 years have loved visiting Corfu. With help from my mother and stepfather, the distinguished Greek artist Nico Ghika, we have created in Corfu one of the most beautiful places on earth – I always seem to be happy there.
I think every wine lover should try Chateau Lafite, which is the first of the first growths in Bordeaux. Their 1982 vintage is a stupendous wine. I don’t think we will ever drink anything finer.
Who has had the greatest influence on me? My late wife, Serena – we were married for 58 years and I learned something from her every week.
I listen to a limited amount of radio, but I am an avid watcher of the news and sport.
The lesson in life that’s been hardest to learn is to take time to cope with such a variety of responsibilities, and with having so many balls in the air. These should be better edited so that it’s less of a struggle to see enough of my children, grandchildren and many friends.
I love our family motto: Concordia, Integritas, Industria (Harmony, Integrity, Industry), and I like to recognise those qualities in others.
Built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 1870s to display his collections and entertain his fashionable guests, Waddesdon remains an enthralling place to visit. Discover the stories behind the exceptional royal treasures on display inside the manor, catch a thought-provoking exhibition or wander through the landscaped grounds past the elegant sculptures and fountains.
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH.
01296 820414; waddesdon.org.uk