Elevations and revelations : Hatchlands Park.

Lucinda Lambton visits Hatchlands Park near Guildford. Built in 1757 it has a dazzling picture collection with paintings so crowded together you couldn't put a needle between them, the less valuable paintings at the very top of the wall. Giles Waterfield explains that the 18th century had a physical approach to hanging - jam them in, hang by size - whereas the 19th century idea was to hang chronologically, by 'school'. Now, museums often hang thematically. The fundamental question is "Would you hang a piece of art where the background 'noise' is louder than the art?" At Kenwood, decorators would put nothing in the room that was brighter than the brightest point on the displayed painting, e.g. a Rembrandt self-portrait. The programme then concentrates on the Hatchlands keyboard collection. Lastly Ken Arnold discusses the Cabinet of Curiosities.