Perhaps to celebrate his new position in life, in 1747 Sir Matthew bought Uppark from the 2nd Earl of Tankerville for £19,000 - around £4 million today. He commissioned an extensive remodelling of the interior with architect James Paine, and to furnish his new home he and his wife embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe in 1749.
Together, they acquired fine furniture, tapestries and paintings, some under commission such as the series of nine portraits by Batoni, his renditions of Meekness and Purity of Heart which have hung in the Saloon for over 200 years, and a series of atmospheric seascapes by Joseph Vernet.
The list of artisans he engaged reads like an encyclopaedia of masters, with acquisitions from Antonio Canaletto, Tommaso Ruiz, Luca Giordano, Francesco Zuccarelli, Frans van Bloemen, and Jacob Xavier Vermoelen.