During the 18^th and 19^th century, it was fashionable for wealthy British families to send their sons, and occasionally daughters, on a Grand Tour. This saw privileged young men and women setting off usually from London to travel across Europe. The tourists were affluent enough to spend multiple years on the Tour. They would often carry letters of introduction with them to integrate into society while abroad.

John Carr (1764-1817) and Harriet Carr (1771-1848) were siblings who set out on their Grand Tour in 1791, returning to England in 1794. They were the children of successful northern businessman Ralph Carr and his wife Isabella.

Ralph and Isabella were initially against Harriet going on the Grand Tour but eventually gave their approval because it was thought that the tour would benefit Harriet’s health – she had a cough thought to be tuberculosis. Some of their objections were around fears of the political situation in Europe and potential dangers to travellers. John and Harriet’s ultimate destination was Italy, travelling via France and Switzerland.

John and Harriet spent almost six months in Rome with short trips to Bologna, Florence, Naples, and Turin. They had planned to leave for England in early 1792 but the outbreak of the Franco-Austrian War prevented this. They returned to Florence in May 1792, staying there until November 1793. In December 1793 John and Harriet made a final visit to Rome before leaving for England and arriving home in the summer of 1794.  

Paper calling cards, or visiting cards, were in use from the 18th century. They were used by fashionable and wealthy members of society and were a form of status symbol.

Visitors would leave a card at the homes of friends and acquaintances to announce their arrival, to express appreciation for hospitality or to express sympathy. If a visitor called and the host or hostess was not at home or was unavailable the card would be left to let them know that the visitor had called.

Some of the cards collected by John and Harriet Carr on their Grand Tour have been preserved. This is a useful way of finding out who John and Harriet met on their Tour. Social contact was an important part of the Grand Tour.

Well-connected tourists in Italy might expect to be introduced to court society. Before the unification of Italy which began in 1848, the country was made up of a number of states, some ruled by Kings and others by Dukes. This system of governance was very different to the system that which British tourists were familiar with.

An introduction to court society might lead to invitations to dine at court and attend court events such as balls or hunting parties. Letters of introduction prepared by friends and acquaintances formed an important role in opening society doors to the Tourist. Their father’s business and personal interests would undoubtedly have opened doors to John and Harriet. The networking opportunities provided by the Grand Tour allowed friendships, and sometimes romantic relationships, to develop that would last beyond the Tour.

This printed calling card is one of those collected by John and Harriet Carr. The card has been bought as a blank with a space for the owner to add their hand-written name, in this case, Marianna Venturi. The scene is in the classical style. Initials, presumably of the engraver, can be found in the bottom right-hand corner of the card.

The Venturi family were a noble family in Florence. In a letter from 26^th June 1793 John writes to his father ‘…We have been lately staying [two] or three days with the Marchesa Venturi at a delightful country house a few miles distant. She amongst many others has always had the utmost affection for Harriet, and she calls her her daughter. She has indeed a daughter a few years older married in France whom she says Harriet puts her in mind of, whose place she has the goodness to say is now amply supplied by a substitute scarce less dear to her than the original…’.