Europe: By Land and Sea

Generations of Rockefellers embraced the concept of the Grand Tour: a historical and cultural pilgrimage through Europe that served as a rite of passage for young men and women of means. In 1938, David embarked with his peers from Harvard University on his own version: a journey down the Adriatic, sailing from Venice to Trieste, Zara, Split, Dubrovnik and Durazzo, concluding in Bari. Although Peggy would later accompany him on subsequent voyages, this and other early adventures opened David’s eyes to a world both geographically and artistically beyond America. Peggy and David’s houses would later reflect a fondness for European landscapes and seascapes, reminding them of their regular adventures abroad. Highlights include paintings by Sargent, Seurat, Cross, Manet, Pissarro and Gauguin.