Art poll

[wellinghall]

Titian's Diana and Actaeon saved for the nation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/feb/02/titian-diana-actaeon-saved

[Poll #1342795]

Comments

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

In principle I am in favour of public spending on the arts, but not when it is because some aristocrat is looking to flog a painting for which he would presumably need to arrange an export licence, and probably leaning on friends in high places to smooth his way.

The reason I should have ticked "it is complicated" is that it would be sad if the painting entered into private hands and was never seen again. But if a gallery was going to buy it, there is no particular reason for it to stay in Britain.

My boss would probably sack me for this...!

[el-staplador.livejournal.com]

it would be sad if the painting entered into private hands and was never seen again. But if a gallery was going to buy it, there is no particular reason for it to stay in Britain

This.

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. It's not even a very good Titian compared to those that the NG already has, and I thought that the NG's acquisition policy was (historically) to favour breadth rather than depth.

[didiusjulianus.livejournal.com]

Hm, while I see that your point might well have some validity (I'm fairly cynical) I seem to remember it being valued at likely much more than the £50m price tag, were it to go to auction.

Maybe the chap needs the money (on some level at least), not all these titled folk have as much as one might think, often it is all tied up in inherited Grade I listed real estate which they can't fix up because they have no readies. Until I hear otherwise I'm giving a little benefit of the doubt.