
Art and collections
We care for one of the world's largest and most significant collections of art and heritage objects. Explore the highlights, our latest major exhibitions, curatorial research and more.
The extravagant spectacle of a sunrise or a sunset is one of nature’s most dramatic displays, with the sun’s rays transforming the sky in a kaleidoscope of colours. Many artists have tried to capture these fleeting moments. Discover how this wonder is reflected in notable works of art from our collections that portray some aspect of the beauty, magnificence and tranquillity of dawn and dusk.
This imaginary landscape by English artist Sebastian Pether (1790–1844) hangs on the walls of The Vyne, Hampshire. It is full of intricate details, including a herdsman crossing the bridge with his cows and a pair of figures by the water’s edge.
Another fantasy landscape, this time by William Ashford (1746–1824) that depicts the romantic ruin of a triumphal arch silhouetted against a golden morning sky. Painted in 1777, it's now part of the collection at Wimpole, Cambridgeshire.
See how artists have used seascapes and sunlight to bring to life peaceful scenes and industrial backdrops alike.
Thomas Miles Richardson was one of the most prominent artists in Newcastle in the first half of the 19th century. This portrayal of the sea off the Yorkshire coast is suffused with the warm tones of the setting sun. It's part of the collection at Cragside, Northumberland.
The distinctive shape of Windsor Castle can be seen against the golden glow of the early morning sun low in the sky in this oil painting by George Cole (1810–83) in the collection at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire. The barge and horses in the foreground add to the tranquillity of this river scene.
Also known as ‘Sunset on the Thames near Westminster with the New Houses of Parliament’, this painting by Henry Dawson (1811–78) hangs in the Drawing Room of Tyntesfield. J.M.W. Turner was a big influence on Dawson, as can be seen from the atmospheric style of this painting.
The imposing structure of Caernarvon Castle, Gwynedd, is the subject of this oil painting by James Francis Dalby (1816–75). The castle is perched on the banks of the River Seiont and Dalby beautifully captures the delicate colours of the setting sun reflected in the water. It's part of the collection at Cragside, Northumberland.
Discover everyday life and calm countryside scenes at sunset in the collections we care for.
Part of the collection at Dunster Castle, Somerset, this oil painting by Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88) shows an evening landscape. In the half-light two woodcutters can be seen loading their bundles of sticks onto the back of a donkey.
We care for one of the world's largest and most significant collections of art and heritage objects. Explore the highlights, our latest major exhibitions, curatorial research and more.
100 Paintings from the Collections of the National Trust showcases works by some of the most renowned European artists of all time, cared for by the Trust and housed in its properties.
Discover how the use of paint in the historic interiors of four National Trust houses reveals evolving fashions, new pigments, and stories of wealth and status.
Learn how William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, brought the natural world indoors with his wallpapers and textiles, which are still instantly recognisable today.
Discover the stories behind some of the greatest artworks and artefacts looked after by the National Trust, as told in a dedicated book, 125 Treasures from the Collections of the National Trust.