The Art Fund has donated its largest ever sum of £1 million to a single artwork, in the campaign to help save Titian’s Diana and Actaeon.
The publicly pledged grant comes after London’s National Gallery and the National Gallery of Scotland joined forces in late August this year, in a bid to preserve the Bridgewater collection.
Diana and Actaeon has been on continuous view in the National Gallery of Scotland since 1945 and is on offer at a reduced price of £50 million by the current Duke of Sutherland, who last August, wished to sell it off after a ‘prudent review’ of the family’s assets.
“This painting can and must be saved," said David Barrie, Director of the Art Fund. "In the current climate it will be difficult, but we managed to save Titian’s Vendramin Family and the Wilton Diptych during the depression – just as great a challenge.”
“Today we have put our money on the table. Now others must come together if this extraordinarily important painting is to be kept where it belongs.”
The charity hopes other funding bodies will come together to raise the full amount of £50 million within a 12-week deadline, which expires on December 31 2008.
If they successfully purchase it, the two galleries will be granted the option to acquire the second picture, Titian’s Diana and Callisto, for a similar amount up until the end of 2012.
Nicholas Penny, Director of the National Gallery, said: “Fear that these supreme masterpieces by Titian might leave these shores was a major factor in the foundation of The Art Fund and it is highly appropriate that the Fund should be the first to support our campaign to acquire them.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Fund and to all its members for what they are doing for both National Galleries.”
