The grand tour played an important role influencing architecture and
art in Britain. Sons of noble families and artists simply had to
travel, especially to Italy, to finish their education. Some artists
went with the help of a patron like John Flaxman did or with a type
of scholarship. Many travellers in the early days came back with
replicas or original statues Roman or indeed Greek statues*. As time
went by artists colonies started to develop in Italy to cater for
the art demand. If one had been to Italy this would increase one's
status considerably. Not everybody came back with crates full of art
works but even small proof of someone's visit would be kept as
souvenir. Travel to Italy especially was not only a must for artists
but was also a major expenditure which, because of that fact alone,
would justify keeping some memorabilia. William Calder Marshall kept
several things one of them was an announcement of an Opera.
