Whilst every generation of the Cecil family has added to the collection, there have been several amongst them whose contribution has been truly remarkable. The first was John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter (1648-1700), who inherited in 1678. He married an energetic, strong-willed and immensely wealthy heiress, Anne Cavendish. Together, they radically changed the interior of Burghley, filling new rooms with spectacular works of art, many of which they gathered on four extended Grand Tours of France and Italy. Their purchases were remarkable, and fortunately many remain here, but they were extravagant.

After their deaths, the estate suffered for 50 years from the huge debt caused by their enthusiastic buying sprees. Wisely, the 8th Earl married a great heiress, allowing his son, Brownlow, the 9th Earl (1725-1793), who succeeded in 1754, to follow in his great-grandfather’s footsteps, sometimes literally, for he, too, travelled to Italy where he quickly became involved with the considerable group of artists, collectors and dilettanti based in Rome. He visited most of the great palaces and studied their collections in detail. He met and patronised artists such as Gavin Hamilton and Angelica Kauffman, who painted his portrait.

During 1763-4 and 1768, as well as buying a number of great paintings, most of which remain at Burghley, Lord Exeter sought out excellent ‘souvenirs’ of his visit, purchasing items of the highest quality to add to his collection at home.