The historic Portland Collection of fine and decorative art will be displayed in a new purpose-built facility set to open on March 20, 2016. The new Harley Gallery at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, is designed by Hugh Broughton Architects and will house changing displays of the historic Portland Collection, which has been built up over the centuries by the Dukes of Portland and their families.The new gallery will showcase a wide range of treasure from the Portland Collection, including Michelangelo’s rarely seen “Madonna del Silenzio” (c.1538), which will go on show for the first time in 50 years. The inaugural displays will include miniature portraits selected by Sir Peter Blake from the more than 400 miniatures in the Portland Collection.William Parente, grandson of The 7th Duke of Portland, said: “Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have not had an easy time economically since the pit closures, and everyone locally, businesses, council, private individuals, has had to work very hard to make things happen. Trying to make the area a more attractive place to visit is obviously important, and as part of this we felt that the time had come to welcome the public to see the Portland Collection.“It has been painstakingly assembled by my family over the last 400 years or so. These things are our history; each generation learns from them and adds to them as they can. But they are also part of our collective history as people: they chart the way people, places, tastes and society have changed over the centuries – everyone should be able to enjoy them.”
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