News, loans and acquisitions

Acquisitions and displays | Current loans to exhibitions | Conservation and restoration

A series of paintings by Kitty North
This new acquisition by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, a series of paintings by Kitty North, are displayed in the Carriage House restaurant. The paintings are all 5 x 6 foot, oil on canvas.

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Wall of Light Red Day Leaving 2005
A large and important oil painting by internationally renowned artist Sean Scully has been placed on view to visitors at Chatsworth.

The hanging of this painting is on the visitor route

Wall of Light Red Day Leaving 2005, is by Sean Scully (born 1945) and has been purchased by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for their personal collection.

Bronze bust of Her Majesty The Queen
The Trustees of the 11th Duke of Devonshire's Will Trust have acquired a bronze bust of Her Majesty The Queen sculpted by Angela Conner. The portrait bust was commissioned by the 11th Duke of Devonshire to mark The Queen's 80th birthday and was produced in an edition of ten. One of these busts, sponsored by the 11th Duke, can be seen in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

Bronze bust of Her Majesty The Queen sculpted by Angela Conner

The bust of The Queen joins other bronze busts by Angela Conner in the West Sketch Gallery at Chatsworth, the most recent of which are portraits of Lord Rothschild and Sir Tom Stoppard.

Portrait of the 4th Duke of Devonshire
The Chatsworth House Trust has purchased an important portrait of the 4th Duke of Devonshire, which has been hidden from public view in private collections since being painted in 1759.

Detail from a purchased portrait of the 4th Duke, the painting and its frame have been conserved since its purchase

The 4th Duke, who inherited the title some 250 years ago, in 1755, was briefly Prime Minister and is depicted in the portrait as a Knight of the Garter and Lord Chamberlain. This is the most important known portrait of the 4th Duke of Devonshire, and is considered a fine work by the most celebrated English portrait painter of the 18th century, Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792). As well as his role in public life, the 4th Duke played an important part in Chatsworth's history, commissioning 'Capability' Brown to create the famous Park which surrounds Chatsworth, and building the Stables and bridge in the 1760s.