NAVIGATION

The Dutch banker Thomas Hope, like Sir William Hamilton before him, was concerned with the harnessing of Greek and Roman antiquities to the shaping and improving of contemporary art and taste. He produced and published his own designs derived from those of antiquity and patronised the products and designs of others that he approved of. He displayed his vast and spectacular collection of ancient art for the enjoyment and education of others and in the development of what was to become known as the ‘Hope style’ his ancient Greek vases; kylix, jugs and ewers played a major role. These elegant ewers in ivory are typical of the influence of antiquity on the designs of the early 19th century.