Titian, 'Diana and Actaeon', 1556-59

Titian, 'Diana and Callisto', 1556-59

Saving the Bridgewater Loan Titians for the nation

The National Gallery has joined in efforts with the National Galleries of Scotland to save the Bridgewater Loan Titians. The Duke of Sutherland has offered to sell the galleries two of these masterpieces on extremely generous terms.

The paintings are arguably the finest in the Bridgewater Loan, which has been on display to the public for over sixty years. The galleries are currently seeking funds to acquire the first of these paintings, ‘Diana and Actaeon’, offered at the net price of £50m.

Assuming this money can be raised, the galleries will then be offered the option to buy the second painting, ‘Diana and Callisto’, in four years' time. Both paintings will then be on rotating display between London and Edinburgh, spending five years at a time in each location.

The Bridgewater Loan is the most important of its kind in the UK. In addition to the works offered for sale, there are further paintings by Titian, along with works by Raphael, Poussin and Rembrandt. It is hoped that the collaboration between the galleries can secure the long-term future of this magnificent collection.

‘Diana and Actaeon’ and ‘Diana and Callisto’ form the core of the Bridgwater Loan. If both paintings can be bought, then the rest of the collection will be secured for a further 21 years.

The Director of the National Gallery, Nicholas Penny, said:

“the paintings have been offered on remarkably advantageous terms; their acquisition by both institutions would be an historic event.”

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