DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1041#0167
History of the Society of Dilettanti 147
and eventually became a trustee of the British
Museum. Sir John Rushout, afterwards Lord
Northwick, was noted for a very remarkable collec-
tion of Greek coins and for a fine collection (since
dispersed) of paintings by the old masters. George
Hamilton-Gordon, fourth Earl of Aberdeen, after
succeeding to the title in 1801, travelled for
some years on the Continent, spending a long time
in Greece. So imbued was Aberdeen with his
Hellenic studies, that on his return to England
he founded a society known as the <■ Athenian
Society.' He formed a small collection of marbles
and bronzes, which were afterwards presented by
his son to the British Museum, and was elected
a member of the Society of Dilettanti on March 9,
i8od. Aberdeen, who was satirized by Byron as
'The travell'd thane, Athenian Aberdeen,'
was a friend and strong supporter of Payne Knight,
and did not escape from the influence of
D'Hancarville. Into his subsequent career as
Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, it is un-
necessary to enter here. A portrait of Aberdeen,
painted by Partridge and now in the National
Portrait Gallery, shows him engaged in his favourite
pursuits as a student of Hellenic art.
William Wilkins, the architect, after graduating Wilhlns,
as sixth wrangler at Cambridge, travelled in Italy Leaie, Gell.
and Greece as a student of architecture. He is well
known for the numerous buildings designed by him
in the l Grecian' style, although he seldom had
a free hand in completing them after his original
design. Wilkins published several works on classical
architecture. He was elected a fellow of the Society
of Dilettanti on April 2, 1809, and was, as a pro-
fessional man, a member whose word carried much
L 2
and eventually became a trustee of the British
Museum. Sir John Rushout, afterwards Lord
Northwick, was noted for a very remarkable collec-
tion of Greek coins and for a fine collection (since
dispersed) of paintings by the old masters. George
Hamilton-Gordon, fourth Earl of Aberdeen, after
succeeding to the title in 1801, travelled for
some years on the Continent, spending a long time
in Greece. So imbued was Aberdeen with his
Hellenic studies, that on his return to England
he founded a society known as the <■ Athenian
Society.' He formed a small collection of marbles
and bronzes, which were afterwards presented by
his son to the British Museum, and was elected
a member of the Society of Dilettanti on March 9,
i8od. Aberdeen, who was satirized by Byron as
'The travell'd thane, Athenian Aberdeen,'
was a friend and strong supporter of Payne Knight,
and did not escape from the influence of
D'Hancarville. Into his subsequent career as
Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, it is un-
necessary to enter here. A portrait of Aberdeen,
painted by Partridge and now in the National
Portrait Gallery, shows him engaged in his favourite
pursuits as a student of Hellenic art.
William Wilkins, the architect, after graduating Wilhlns,
as sixth wrangler at Cambridge, travelled in Italy Leaie, Gell.
and Greece as a student of architecture. He is well
known for the numerous buildings designed by him
in the l Grecian' style, although he seldom had
a free hand in completing them after his original
design. Wilkins published several works on classical
architecture. He was elected a fellow of the Society
of Dilettanti on April 2, 1809, and was, as a pro-
fessional man, a member whose word carried much
L 2