Coming soon... Meet Rembrandt at Upton House and Gardens

A treasure on tour

Usually on display at Buckland Abbey in Devon, Rembrandt’s self-portrait has been on tour in the country and will continue to be on tour until the end of 2026, enabling more people than ever to ‘meet Rembrandt’.

 

Meet Rembrandt: A slow looking experience will be at the following remaining venues:

• Friday 12 September 2025 – Sunday 22 March 2026 – Kingston Lacy, Dorset
• Friday 27 March – Sunday 12 July 2026 – Dunham Massey, Cheshire
• Friday 17 July – Sunday 8 November 2026 – Upton House, Warwickshire

Take a slow look

Did you know, the average person spends just 8 seconds looking at a work of art? Slow looking provides a welcome break from the need to be busy and efficient, and can help with wellbeing, reducing stress and increasing empathy. Give yourself permission to have a seat, relax and take your time looking at this masterpiece with a free audio guide. What will you discover when you spend a little more time with Rembrandt?

The audio guide will offer different perspectives on the painting, including a guided and meditative ‘slow look’ at its details; the opportunity to hear from the artist himself about what he was doing when he made the portrait; and an exploration of the painting’s remarkable conservation story, through expert insights from the conservators and art historians who worked on the painting. There’ll also be audio description for blind and partially-sighted visitors, guiding you through Rembrandt’s self-portrait, with space to reflect on what’s in the painting.

 

Meet Rembrandt

One of the most famous artists of all time, the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–69) produced around 80 self-portraits throughout his career, including paintings, etchings and drawings. Today, these ‘selfies’ provide a unique insight into his evolving artistic practice and the aging process.

This flamboyant self-portrait, the only painting by Rembrandt in the National Trust’s collections, was painted when he was at the height of his powers and living in the bustling city of Amsterdam

Using himself as a model allowed Rembrandt to experiment, and he often showed himself pulling funny faces or posing in different outfits, advertising his skill to potential clients. In this self-portrait he’s dressed up as an adventurer, in a theatrical feathered bonnet and a sumptuous velvet cape.

When it was acquired by the National Trust in 2010 the painting was labelled ‘studio of Rembrandt’ and was thought to be by a pupil or follower. In 2013 extensive cleaning and scientific analysis revealed the hand of the master himself, and the self-portrait was confirmed as actually being by Rembrandt.

What are the details?

Rembrandt van Rijn’s ‘Self-portrait in a Feathered Bonnet’ (1635) will be on display at Upton House and Gardens from Friday 17 July to Sunday 8 November 2026. It is a self-led experience, available during normal house opening times. This will be a free exhibition, normal house admission will apply. 

Meet Rembrandt’ will be in the Sitting Room on the ground floor of the House. There is a ramped side access to the House. If you require assistance, please ask at the main house entrance where the team will facilitate access.

Conservator's talk - 'Rembrandt and the science of art'

Thursday 6 August, 5pm - 7.30 pm, £15 per person. Advance booking essential. 

Join Rebecca Hellen, National Conservator for Visual Arts, for a talk which will take you behind the scenes to look at what is means to understand paintings through science and conservation.

Rebecca worked extensively on the Rembrandt self-portrait that is on display at Upton House from 17 July, and she will bring this to life along with other paintings, sharing her knowledge of what can be learnt from studying these paintings. The National Trust is also creating the UK and Europe’s largest collection of scientific paint samples of its paintings, interiors and more, embarking on a journey into colour. Rebecca will explore how we are pioneering in this field and why.

The talk will start with a glass of fizz and time for you to enjoy the slow looking audio-guided experience of Rembrandt’s self-portrait in a Feathered Bonnet. This will be followed by Rebecca’s talk with time for questions.