Five significant family portraits return to Derbyshire’s Hardwick Hall this month following conservation work that has revealed stories hidden beneath their surfaces.
The paintings have been brought together for a new exhibition, Bess: Unframing the Family, which opens on 23 May at the Elizabethan mansion built by the formidable Bess of Hardwick.
The exhibition reunites portraits of figures connected with Bess and her family, including Mary Queen of Scots, Anne Keighley (Bess’s daughter in law), William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire (Bess’s grandson), Lady Arbella Stuart (Bess’s granddaughter), and Sir Henry Cavendish (Bess’s son).
The exhibition follows a conservation programme that included technical examinations of the paintings to uncover the paintings’ hidden histories. Techniques included infrared imaging, paint analysis, x-rays and detailed scanning, similar to the those featured on the BBC’s Fake or Fortune? series.
Fresh from conservation, the portraits offer fresh insights into the people they depict.
By examining the layers beneath the surface, conservators have uncovered earlier compositions, hidden details, and the decisions made by artists centuries ago.
Technical imaging of the portrait of Henry Cavendish, for instance, revealed that the composition was altered during its creation. His posture was changed, and his hand – originally positioned on his hip – was repainted to rest on a table. This adjustment symbolised authority and status, shedding new light on how the Cavendishes wished to be perceived.
Further conservation work to a painting of the 2nd Earl of Devonshire, uncovered structural changes to the painting. It revealed that it had been split at some point and later meticulously realigned, demonstrating the extraordinary skill involved in its preservation.
The conservation of the portraits has been captured on film, which will be shown in the exhibition rooms on the ground floor of the hall. It gives visitors the chance to explore the stories behind the portraits and get a sneak peek behind-the-scenes of the specialist skills involved.
A trail will then guide visitors throughout the rest of the hall, giving them the chance to see the portraits and find additional objects from the collection that uncover further stories about Bess of Hardwick, her family and connections.
Elena Williams, Collections and House Manager, said: “The scientific techniques involved in this conservation work has been fascinating. It has offered new and unexpected insights into the portraits and transformed our understanding of the portraits.
“We hope that the exhibition encourages people to not only explore the stories behind the portraits but want to learn more about the groundbreaking techniques used. Conservation is an exciting field, bringing art, history, and science together. Hopefully, the exhibition shines a light on the exciting field of conservation and inspire a younger generation to follow our footsteps.”
Bess: Unframing the Family runs from Saturday 23 May until 1 November. It follows the recent opening of the Bess’s Dream exhibition, which offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about the real Bess and how important her family was to her.
Both exhibitions are free to enter with admission to Hardwick Hall. Details about both exhibitions and admission to Hardwick and its wider estate can be found on the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick
