A spokesman for the Duke of Sutherland has revealed that if negotiations with the National Gallery in London (NGL) and the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) to buy his two Titian paintings fall through, then it would not necessarily follow that the paintings would be sold on the open market.
In a statement, the duke's spokesman said: "It would be for the duke to decide which works to offer for sale at that point. If these two Titians are not the ones selected for sale, then it would be quite reasonable to expect them to remain at the NGS, along with the rest of the Bridgewater loan."
John Leighton, director-general of NGS, said the duke would prefer to sell his paintings to public galleries, and that he had offered the works on very generous terms.
"Obviously, it is entirely at the owner's discretion which part of the collection he wishes to sell, if the NGS and NGL are unable to raise the £50m target for Diana and Actaeon by 31 December," he said.
"This could be one or both Titians. It could be other works, but obviously it would be impossible to achieve the required sum without the risk of major works being lost from public view and probably from this country."
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has said it has "no pot of gold" to help fund the purchase of the Titians. A spokesman said he had "no reason to be optimistic" about the Treasury's willingness to finance the acquisition of the paintings, which have been on loan to the Edinburgh gallery from the Duke of Sutherland since 1945.
"The cultural sector has done really well out of the last three spending settlements, and the case for further investment would be difficult to justify," he added.
Some dealers have warned that other prestigious works on loan to museums could be reclaimed and put up for sale in light of the art market boom. "This is a distinct possibility," said London dealer William Thuillier. But an NGL spokeswoman said she was not aware of other loaned pieces in the collection facing the same predicament.
If the galleries do secure funding, the first of four payments for the £50m purchase of Diana and Actaeon would be due on 1 January 2009. Diana and Callisto would be offered at a similar price from 2013.
In a statement, the duke's spokesman said: "It would be for the duke to decide which works to offer for sale at that point. If these two Titians are not the ones selected for sale, then it would be quite reasonable to expect them to remain at the NGS, along with the rest of the Bridgewater loan."
John Leighton, director-general of NGS, said the duke would prefer to sell his paintings to public galleries, and that he had offered the works on very generous terms.
"Obviously, it is entirely at the owner's discretion which part of the collection he wishes to sell, if the NGS and NGL are unable to raise the £50m target for Diana and Actaeon by 31 December," he said.
"This could be one or both Titians. It could be other works, but obviously it would be impossible to achieve the required sum without the risk of major works being lost from public view and probably from this country."
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has said it has "no pot of gold" to help fund the purchase of the Titians. A spokesman said he had "no reason to be optimistic" about the Treasury's willingness to finance the acquisition of the paintings, which have been on loan to the Edinburgh gallery from the Duke of Sutherland since 1945.
"The cultural sector has done really well out of the last three spending settlements, and the case for further investment would be difficult to justify," he added.
Some dealers have warned that other prestigious works on loan to museums could be reclaimed and put up for sale in light of the art market boom. "This is a distinct possibility," said London dealer William Thuillier. But an NGL spokeswoman said she was not aware of other loaned pieces in the collection facing the same predicament.
If the galleries do secure funding, the first of four payments for the £50m purchase of Diana and Actaeon would be due on 1 January 2009. Diana and Callisto would be offered at a similar price from 2013.
What £50m could buy
957 directors of the Museum of Childhood, London (salary in excess of £52,226) *
2,337 curators of historic art at the National Museum Wales (average salary £21,392) *
2,454 education and lifelong learning officers, Walsall Museums Service (average salary £20,371) *
50 First Emperor exhibitions at the British Museum, London (exhibition cost £1m)
211 Stirling Station paintings (1888) by William Kennedy, as purchased by Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow for £237,000 in June
* As cited in the Museums Association's 2008-09 salary guidelines
957 directors of the Museum of Childhood, London (salary in excess of £52,226) *
2,337 curators of historic art at the National Museum Wales (average salary £21,392) *
2,454 education and lifelong learning officers, Walsall Museums Service (average salary £20,371) *
50 First Emperor exhibitions at the British Museum, London (exhibition cost £1m)
211 Stirling Station paintings (1888) by William Kennedy, as purchased by Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow for £237,000 in June
* As cited in the Museums Association's 2008-09 salary guidelines
Links
Museums Journal, October 2008, Nicholas Penny profile p46
Museums Journal, October 2008, Nicholas Penny profile p46
