Beyond The Portrait

About

Beyond the Portrait, a new installation at the National Trust's Kingston Lacy in Dorset is one of a wide range of events and exhibitions taking place at National Trust properties across the country to commemorate the centenary of women's suffrage.

Bringing together fine art, decorative objects and voices from the Bankes Archives held at the Dorset History Centre, 'Beyond the Portrait' will delve into the complex characters of Brave Dame Mary and Frances, Anne and Henrietta Bankes. What is discovered will reveal the influence these women had in shaping Kingston Lacy from the Civil War to the early twentieth century, looking beyond their public image to discover who these women really were and what their lives were like.

Beyond the Portrait aims to explore and highlight the sometimes hidden voices, culture, and creativity of the women of the Bankes family across history. The project has allowed us to place the voices of Mary, Frances, Anne and Henrietta at the centre of our story-telling. We hope that part of the legacy of the project will be the foundation of our long-term plan to embed the female perspective into Kingston Lacy and Purbeck's core story, rebalancing the way we share this history.

Admission is free for National Trust members. Normal admissions applies for non-National Trust members.