Diana and Actaeon by Titian acquired finally by London and Edinburgh

Tiziano Vecellio, called the Titien (1489/1490-1576)
Diane and Actaeon, 1556-1559
Oil on canvas - 184.5 x 202.2 cm
Londres, National Gallery et
Edimbourg, National Gallery of Scotland
Photo : National Gallery of Scotland

10/2/09 – Acquisition – Edinburgh, National Gallery of Scotland and London, National Gallery – The two British museums have succeeded, as was to be expected (see news item of 27/1/09), in raising the £50 Million needed to purchase Diana and Actaeon from the Duke of Sutherland [1]. A final agreement was reached between the two parties, with the press release stating that the National Gallery of Edinburgh had “received the guarantee that the rest of the Bridgewater Collection [see news item of 28/8/08] would remain on loan for the next 21 years”.
The painting will be exhibited on an alternative basis every five years in each establishment, a very poor solution but apparently the only feasible one. The two galleries now have until 2012 to acquire Diana and Calisto (it seems impossible for them not to as it would be inconceivable to separate the pair).

Version française