The acquisition was made possible by generous contributions of £11.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £400,000 from The Art Fund, donations from American Friends of the National Gallery, London and the public. A generous gift from Sir Christopher Ondaatje helped ensure that the purchase could proceed.

Shortly after its acquisition the painting completed a nationwide tour visiting Manchester Art Gallery, the National Museums and Gallery of Wales in Cardiff, the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, and - close to its former home at Alnwick Castle - the Bowes Museum, County Durham. It was one of the highlights of the National Gallery's major Raphael exhibition, held from October 2004 to January 2005.

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