THE painting shows York as you will never have seen it before: the Minster standing proud on a slight hill, the red-brick roofs of the inner city clustering around its feet like children.

Admittedly, there is a hint of artistic elaboration to the painting, which comes from a private collection – the landscape is far hillier than in reality, for a start.

But the wonderful panorama, painted by brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Buck in 1745, shows countless details that are still familiar today. There are the city walls, half hidden by trees in the mid-ground; Clifford’s Tower on its mound; the River Ouse, with ships in full sail; and countless churches, their spires reaching to the heavens.

The view was painted from Lamel Hill, near where The Retreat now stands, and the almost Gainsborough-like figures in the foreground, with their three-cornered hats and frock coats, add proportion and a touch of Georgian elegance to the scene.

The painting is one of hundreds of sketches, prints, drawings, paintings and maps that York Civic Trust hopes to bring together for a major exhibition next year at Fairfax House, celebrating views of York.

The exhibition, which will run from April to August, will focus on views which show the setting of York, the rivers, its medieval streets and the walls, plus panoramic views of the city. All of these have inspired artists over the past four centuries, says Peter Brown, the director of the York Civic Trust, who will curate the exhibition.

Peter has been researching the exhibition for a year, and has already had a good response from the holders of private collections.

“Quite a few people have stepped forward already and we have some wonderful images which have never been seen by the general public before,” he says.

Other works will be loaned from major national collections such as the British Museum, the British Library, York Art Gallery and the Tate.

But Peter is still keen to hear from other private collectors who have paintings, sketches or photos of old, lost or quirky views of the city. “We are appealing to those who have private collections to contact us,” he says.

The earliest painting Peter has discovered so far is a distant view of the city by court painter Alexander Keirincx, who came to York with Charles I in 1639.

Watercolours by the artist Francis Place, who settled in York in the 1680s, are also included, as are atmospheric studies by the likes of Turner, Thomas Girtin, and Scarborough artist JB Carter.

The most recent are two modern paintings by York artist John Langton, one a wonderful 2008 oil painting showing the Minster peeping above red rooftops.

Next year, around two-thirds of Fairfax House being given over to accommodating about 100 paintings, sketches and drawings.

There will also be seminars, walking tours of York, and an art competition for local primary schools. An illustrated 264-page catalogue, edited by Peter, will ensure there is a lasting record of the exhibition.

• If you have paintings, sketches or photographs of unusual or lost views of York that you would be prepared to lend to the York Civic Trust, email peterbrown@yorkcivictrust.co.uk

• A “DARK and atmospheric” painting of York Minster lit up by aircraft searchlights to commemorate VE Day in 1945 will be valued by experts from the Antiques Roadshow, which is being filmed in York’s Museum Gardens tomorrow.

York Press: York painting

The painting is owned by Dede Scott Brown, from Husthwaite, who was in the crowd at the Minster that night as a young girl.

“I remember seeing it that night, aged three, still wearing my pyjamas and wrapped in a blanket with my family and our black Labrador,” says Dede. “It was a very dark and atmospheric wet night, and it was just the Minster looking beautiful.”

Dede found the painting stuffed in the corner of her friend’s garage on the Isle of Mull. Luckily, she spotted it and mentioned it to her friend, who said she could have it, as it was just going to be thrown out.

Peter Brown, of York Civic Trust, says the painting was by WH Bradley, “who I don’t know anything about. So I’m hoping the Antiques Roadshow should be able to tell us something more”.

Doors to the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow event are open between 9.30am and 4.30pm tomorrow, and anyone in the queue by 4.30pm will see an expert.

• Anyone with a large piece of furniture or other big item should phone the Antiques Roadshow in advance on 0117 9742395, or email antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk