Jacob Rothschild, dynastic collector and philanthropist, has died at 87

Jacob Rothschild, a former trustee of the National Gallery, has died aged 87. The leading member of the banking dynasty was a custodian of the family’s country house, Waddesdon Manor, and added to its eclectic collections, including contemporary art and architecture in its grounds.

Rothschild’s final commission, which was unveiled in 2023, is a colorful folly by the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Called Wedding Cake, which it resembles on a gigantic scale, Rothschild told the Financial Times he preferred the description “temple” for the structure where couples can exchange vows.

To the Old Masters and historic portraits inside the country house, he added portraits of himself by his friends Lucian Freud and David Hockney, as well as many artefacts, some of which were set for export from the UK until the financier stepped in.

In central London, Rothschild was instrumental in the transformation of Somerset House from government offices into a vibrant cultural center, home of the Courtauld Gallery, temporary exhibitions and art fairs, such as Photo London.

In 2000, bought the Gilbert Collection, which had been on loan to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, to London, although its stay at Somerset House was short lived, as was a branch of the State Hermitage Museum. Rothschild was a trustee of the St Petersburg museum (stepping down in 2008).

Rothschild also continued his family's charitable interests in Israel, supporting among other institutions the new Herzog and de Meuron-designed National Library of Israel in Jerusalem. His daughter, Hannah Rothschild, succeeded him as president of the charitable foundatioin Yad Hanadiv in 2018.