Strawberry Hill House painting appeal launched
An appeal has been launched by Strawberry Hill House and Garden to raise funds to acquire South East View of Strawberry Hill House by Johann Heinrich Müntz (c.1755–58) that captures Horace Walpole’s Gothic villa at the moment the Gothic Revival was being born.
Commissioned by Walpole himself, the painting provides a glimpse of Strawberry Hill before the dramatic transformation of 1759, which saw the addition of the Gallery and Round Tower, creating the silhouette we see today. It is one of just two oil paintings of the house by Müntz, with the other held at the Lewis Walpole Library in Yale University.
When the painting was being made, the Swiss artist Johann Heinrich Müntz had been living and working at the house as Walpole’s artist of residence, contributing directly to the evolving architectural vision.
The painting is currently on a short-term loan, having been on display in the Red Bedchamber at Strawberry Hill House since 30th March 2026 where it can be viewed for free with general admission.
Painted for Walpole and kept at the London residence on Berkeley Street, the view of the house has never hung in the building it was created to record. Doing so would bring it home for the first time.
Two generous supporters have offered to match donations to the appeal pound-for-pound, meaning every contribution would go twice as far until the £85,000 target can be reached.
For more information and to donate, visit the website.
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