Country house art exhibitions
Seven, nationwide
1 KINGSTON LACY, DORSET
The legacy of the Bankes family, this lavishly decorated 17th-century manor contains one of the country’s most remarkable private art collections. Works by Titian, Van Dyck and Tintoretto grace the walls; don’t miss the room full of ancient Egyptian relics.
2 MOUNT STEWART, COUNTY DOWN
Reopened after a three-year restoration project, the House at Mount Stewart has many of the Londonderry family treasures on display, including over 200 years’ worth of family silver, portraits, handcrafted furniture and ceramics. On the west stairs is George Stubbs’ masterpiece of racing horse Hambletonian (pictured).
3 DRUMLANRIG CASTLE, DUMFRIES
The Douglas family seat is home to the impressive Buccleuch Collection. Beside Rembrandt van Rijn’s 1655 masterpiece An Old Woman Reading, hang family portraits by Reynolds and Gainsborough. Open from 19 April.
4 AUDLEY END, ESSEX
This Jacobean mansion houses a fascinating collection, mostly amassed in the 19th century by Richard, 3rd Baron Braybrooke. Many Old Masters are on display plus a number of early English portraits, and an intriguing taxidermy collection.
5 BASILDON PARK, BERKSHIRE
Immerse yourself in a Grand Tour of Europe with treasures from the Brinsley Ford Collection, including Old Masters and 20th-century engravings. On long-term loan to the National Trust, the collection complements the baroque and rococo works collected by Lord and Lady Iliffe.
6 SNOWSHILL MANOR, COTSWOLDS
You could spend hours poring over Snowshill Manor’s curious collection of quirky objects from around the world. The lifelong work of passionate collector Charles Paget Wade, every room is themed and filled with hundreds of objects, from masks and suits of armour to toys and musical instruments. Open from 18 March.
7 PETWORTH HOUSE, WEST SUSSEX
Petworth House’s grand state rooms house the National Trust’s finest art collection. This month it hosts Prized Possessions, a celebration of Dutch art of the ‘Golden Age’, bringing together nearly two dozen 17th-century paintings from NT properties around the country; until 24 March.