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Bess: unframing the family
Exhibitions

Bess: unframing the family

Sat 3 Oct · 11:00

Hardwick

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About This Event

Bess: unframing the family is a recurring exhibition at Hardwick in Nottingham, exploring themes of creation, conservation, and investigation through the lens of Bess and her family. The exhibition features family portraits and other related works. Admission is required.

This new exhibition explores Bess and her family through the themes of creation, conservation and investigation. It brings together family portraits and other significant objects from the collection to reveal new insights into both the artworks and the people they depict.

On the ground floor, the museum rooms have been transformed into an introduction to the world of conservation, offering an in‑depth look at the technical analysis behind each portrait. Discover how infrared imaging, x‑radiography and macro XRF scanning are used, and what these techniques reveal about the artists’ creative processes. You can also watch a short film that explores the conservation of two portraits from the collection, showcasing the specialist skills involved.

Throughout the rest of the house, follow the signage to find additional objects from the collection that uncover further stories about Bess and her family.

Description supplied by the event organiser.

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Frequently asked questions

Bess: unframing the family takes place on Saturday, 3 October 2026 at 11:00. The event runs until Sunday, 1 November 2026.

Bess: unframing the family is held at Hardwick in Nottingham (Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire).

The forecast for Bess: unframing the family is Clear · 15°C.

Yes — hotels within walking distance of Hardwick can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.

Tickets for Bess: unframing the family can be booked via nationaltrust.org.uk using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.

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