Alastair Laing Book order (chronological)

The National Trust manages some of Britain's finest painting collections, often overlooked due to their dispersion across various houses. This work presents a captivating selection of these treasures, including grand portraits by Van Dyck, Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Romney, alongside domestic scenes featuring figures like Mrs. Garnett and Thomas Rogers. It showcases remarkable Old Masters by Titian, Velazquez, and Rembrandt, as well as exquisite cabinet paintings by 17th-century Dutch and Flemish artists such as Steen and Breughel. The collection also includes intimate narrative works by Hogarth, Mercier, and Zoffany, ideal landscapes by Claude and Hobbema, cityscapes by Cuyp and Bellotto, and English views by Turner. Unique pieces like Wyck's amusing A Dutch Mastiff with Dunham Massey highlight the British affinity for animals and country house vistas. This book serves as a permanent record of the 1995 exhibition at the National Gallery celebrating the National Trust's Centenary. Detailed analyses and color reproductions of the exhibits are organized thematically, reflecting the evolution of British art collection and display since the 17th century. The catalogue entries are complemented by a gazetteer of the collections, enhancing our understanding of British art patronage and collecting.