Art & collections

Many original works by William Morris will go on display in a new exhibition at Standen House and Garden, West Sussex. Inspired by Nature explores how Morris's designs were influenced by natural patterns and were used in wallpaper, textiles and other items produced by his firm Morris & Co. Opens 1 June.

More than any other British decorative arts designer, William Morris drew on countryside and hedgerow plants to populate his patterns and old-fashioned garden flowers to inform his creations. To mark the new Morris & Co. Inspired by Nature exhibition at Standen, we look closer at his designs, their connection to nature and his lasting legacy.

Visitors to Buckland Abbey in Devon have a rare opportunity to see a portrait of Sir Francis Drake, on display in the house he bought after circumnavigating the globe in 1580. The exhibition of this full-length painting, loaned to us by the National Portrait Gallery, opened on 28 April.

Celebrating an icon of British 20th century design and fashion photography, Rainham Hall will launch a new exhibition programme about the life and career of one of its 1960s inhabitants, Anthony Denney. From 29 June 2019.

An unusual ancient marble cat, a rare alabaster survival from the Reformation, the earliest known wood carving by Grinling Gibbons and a brass modernist interpretation by Barbara Hepworth… just a few of the greatest examples in our diverse and internationally significant collection of sculptures to explore.

From Bosch and Burne-Jones to Rembrandt, Stubbs and Whistler, these are exceptional paintings on show among the 200 historic houses we care for. Chosen by the National Trust's Curator of Pictures and Sculpture, from our collection of 13,000 oil paintings.

Our collections are constantly revitalised through new acquisitions. Recently, The Breakfast Table by Sir George Clausen, a charming picture of the artist’s wife and daughters, was bequeathed to Standen House in West Sussex.

Each year we lend many items from our collections to external exhibitions. You may be surprised to find out where our objects go on show.