A painting by Sanchez Coello fought over by the National Gallery in London and the Lichtenstein Museum

Alonso Sanchez Coello (vers 1532-1588)
Portrait of Don Diego, Son of Philip II of Spain
Oil on canvas - 108 x 88.2 cm
Vienna, Liechtenstein Museum

December 27, 2007 — Controversy — Vienna, Liechtenstein Museum and London, National Gallery — Two months ago we wrote (see News of 28/10/07) that the Prince of Lichtenstein’s acquisition of the Portrait of a Child by Sanchez Coello (ill.) for his Viennese museum from the Dickinson Gallery in London, part of a collective purchase opposed by English courts, did not seem to be jeopardized.

In fact, The Art Newspaper has just revealed that the painting was still being held in the United Kingdom and that the National Gallery had taken an interest in it. The ongoing investigation will determine if the very high estimation for request of export (£2 million), corresponds to a fair price on the art market.

Let us remember that the National Gallery is still trying to raise funds for the acquisition of the Sacraments by Nicolas Poussin (see News of 12/7/07).