A selection of historic portraits from Lydiard House have temporarily left their home to feature in an important exhibition at Museum & Art Swindon.
The exhibition running from 11 April to 3 January, is called How You See Me: 400 Years of Portraits from Swindon’s Museums.
It showcase works spanning four centuries, including portraits of the St John family and their circle - figures whose ambitions, relationships, and legacies helped shape Lydiard House and its estate.
A spokesperson for the Friends of Lydiard Park, the charity which promotes Lydiard House, St Mary’s Church, and the surrounding historic parkland, said of the people portrayed: "From statesmen and soldiers to mothers and writers, these individuals are central to the story of Lydiard, their lives reflected not only in paint but in the very fabric of the house, the memorials of St Mary’s Church, and the surrounding parkland.
"For the first time in many years, visitors will have the opportunity to view these portraits up close in a new context, offering fresh perspectives on how identity, status, and legacy have been expressed through portraiture across generations.
"The Friends warmly encourage visitors to look beyond the painted surface and encounter the lives behind the portraits—stories of family, loyalty, ambition, and change that continue to resonate today."
Further details about the individuals featured can be explored through The Lydiard Archives.
Visitors to the exhibition are also invited to experience Lydiard Park itself, where the landscapes, rooms, and history of the house bring the portraits vividly to life.
The Friends' website is www.friendsoflydiardpark.org.uk
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