NMM close to acquiring Stubbs paintings
Two thirds of £5.5m purchase price raised
The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is "two thirds of the way" to meeting its fundraising target of £5.5m to acquire two paintings by the 18th century artist George Stubbs, according to a spokeswoman at the museum.
The museum was given a boost last month after receiving £3.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £200,000 from the Art Fund towards its target.
Stubbs’ artworks, the Kongouro from New Holland and Portrait of a Large Dog, were inspired by Captain Cook’s first voyage to Australasia and were the British public’s first sighting of the continent’s outlandish creatures.
The NMM is at loggerheads with the National Gallery of Australia over the fate of the paintings after an unnamed buyer bought them for the Australian gallery. Under the terms of a temporary export bar, the NMM has until 5 November to raise the money.
Both galleries claim the paintings are of national significance.
Rex Whistler
Meanwhile Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum has received a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund towards acquiring the artist Rex Whistler’s personal archive of over 1,000 illustrations, portraits and annotated sketchbooks.
The interwar artist served as a tank commander on Salisbury Plain in the 1930s and 40s and painted many portraits of fellow officers and army life. He died in action in 1944.
The museum displays much of Whistler’s work and hopes the grant will enable it to raise the remaining £10,000 it needs to purchase the archive.
C.R. Ashbee
The Court Barn Museum has purchased a pendant designed by arts and crafts pioneer C. R. Ashbee at the turn of the 19th century. The item was bought with the help of the Friends of Court barn Museum, the Art Fund and the V&A Purchase Grant Fund.
Pietro Longhi
In Durham, the Bowes Museum has bequeathed two copies of paintings by Italian artist Pietro Longhi made by his compatriot, the engraver Flipart.
James William "Iron" Hague
Doncaster Museum is optimistic that a £2,500 painting of local boxing champion James William "Iron" Hague will stay in the area after two business people responded to a funding appeal.
The museum was given a boost last month after receiving £3.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £200,000 from the Art Fund towards its target.
Stubbs’ artworks, the Kongouro from New Holland and Portrait of a Large Dog, were inspired by Captain Cook’s first voyage to Australasia and were the British public’s first sighting of the continent’s outlandish creatures.
The NMM is at loggerheads with the National Gallery of Australia over the fate of the paintings after an unnamed buyer bought them for the Australian gallery. Under the terms of a temporary export bar, the NMM has until 5 November to raise the money.
Both galleries claim the paintings are of national significance.
Rex Whistler
Meanwhile Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum has received a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund towards acquiring the artist Rex Whistler’s personal archive of over 1,000 illustrations, portraits and annotated sketchbooks.
The interwar artist served as a tank commander on Salisbury Plain in the 1930s and 40s and painted many portraits of fellow officers and army life. He died in action in 1944.
The museum displays much of Whistler’s work and hopes the grant will enable it to raise the remaining £10,000 it needs to purchase the archive.
C.R. Ashbee
The Court Barn Museum has purchased a pendant designed by arts and crafts pioneer C. R. Ashbee at the turn of the 19th century. The item was bought with the help of the Friends of Court barn Museum, the Art Fund and the V&A Purchase Grant Fund.
Pietro Longhi
In Durham, the Bowes Museum has bequeathed two copies of paintings by Italian artist Pietro Longhi made by his compatriot, the engraver Flipart.
James William "Iron" Hague
Doncaster Museum is optimistic that a £2,500 painting of local boxing champion James William "Iron" Hague will stay in the area after two business people responded to a funding appeal.