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Sevres Wine Cooler, showing nymphs worshipping the bust of Pan, from a service made for Louis XVI, dated 1792, in the Porcelain Lobby at Upton House, Warwickshire
Sèvres Wine Cooler from a service made for Louis XVI, dated 1792, in the collections of Upton House, Warwickshire | © National Trust Images/Nadia Mackenzie

Art and collections

Explore one of the world’s largest art and heritage collections. With more than one million objects at over 200 historic places, there's many stories to discover.

Explore the collections

Detail of the highly decorated ceiling of the Boudoir, attributed to Louis-Andre Delabriere at Attingham Park, Shropshire
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Collection items inspired by romance 

Many items in our collections have been inspired by historic romance and passionate real-life relationships. Take a look at this selection of works of art and tokens of love from the places we look after.

A collection of photographs at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Calke Abbey tells the story of the dramatic decline of a country house estate.
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The history of portrait photography 

Discover the history and development of portrait photography through a selection of images from the collections in our care.

A painting of a young man casually lying on the ground in a green woodland glade. He wears ornate blue and white Elizabethan-style trousers and bodice and he has a dark brown beard and moustache. Behind him, in another woodland glade, there are two horses and another figure.
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Great masterpieces in our collections 

Masterpieces by Velázquez, Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch and El Greco can be seen in the collections at the properties in our care across the UK.

Paintings in the collections

Oil painting on canvas, View of Dordercht (from the Maas) by Aelbert Cuyp
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Spectacular skies: dawns and dusks in the collections we care for 

Explore the artworks in our collections that capture the beauty of sunrise and sunset. See how artists have used seascapes and sunlight to bring to life peaceful scenes and industrial backdrops alike.

Painted image of Sir Joshua Reynolds sitting at a desk
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Highlights from the Sir Joshua Reynolds collection 

Sir Joshua Reynolds was the leading portrait painter of the 18th century, admired for being able to capture an individual’s distinctive personality. We look after the largest collection of his works in a historic house setting, including 76 oil paintings.

Stories to explore in the collections we care for

A close-up of the gilded pale blue and gold ceiling in the Drawing Room at Attingham Park
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History of paint in National Trust places 

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.

A close-up of the Chinese wallpaper in the Chinese dressing room at Saltram depicting human figures, with an early 18th-century Arita porcelain figure visible on top of the mantel.
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Chinese wallpaper highlights 

Discover some of the places in our care where you’ll find rare and significant Chinese wall coverings – a staple decoration of the British country house.

Oil painting on panel, Queen Elizabeth I, British (English) School, 16th century.
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Queen Elizabeth and the ‘Mask of Youth’ 

‘The Mask of Youth’ gave Queen Elizabeth I ageless beauty in art. Read more about the history and where you can see examples in the collections in our care.

More about the collections

Painting on display in the Upper Gallery at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
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About the collections in our care 

See the breadth of our collection of works of art, furniture and more: we care for around a million objects at over 200 historic places, there’s a surprise discovery around every corner.

The painting Penelope and Euriclea by Angelica Kauffman, on display at Stourhead
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Our latest collection acquisitions 

Discover some of the most recent acquisitions and the stories behind them, from paintings and objects kindly donated to the National Trust to those purchased with funds raised thanks to the generosity of visitors.

Sea Dog Table in the Withdrawing Chamber at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
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Loaning items to exhibitions 

Explore just some of the paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and furniture that we lend to museums and galleries around the world, so they can be enjoyed by millions of people.

Iron and Coal on Tyneside in the 19th Century by William Bell Scott (1811–1890) at Wallington, Northumberland
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Cultural Heritage Publishing 

We publish two illustrated research journals every year, containing expert insights into our places and collections, curatorial content, and the latest conservation news.

Caring for your own collection

Conservator vacuuming a tapestry chair seat using monofilament screening to protect loose threads from the suction of the special museum upholstery tool in the Long Gallery at Osterley Park, Middlesex
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How to care for your precious objects 

National Trust conservationists know a thing or two about protecting valuable items. Get some top tips to protect your precious objects.

Close view of part of carved armchair with beetle damage, from the Drawing Room at Ickworth, Suffolk
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Expert tips for tackling insect pests that damage clothes, paper and furniture 

A National Trust conservator explains how to identify insect pests like clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverfish and prevent the damage they can do in your home.

The Temple of British Worthies at Stowe in Buckinghamshire with a series of stone busts sat in alcoves in a semicircular structure

Immerse yourself in history

Meet people from the centuries gone by, learn about the unique artworks in our care and understand more about historic traditions.