Letter: Inspiring Titians must be saved for the nation

Sixty of Britain’s most renowned artists have written to The Times today calling for two of the country’s most important paintings to be saved for the nation.

Two enormous works by Titian, the Renaissance Master, are on the verge of being sold on the open market, having hung in the National Galleries of Scotland for decades.

Lucian Freud, Sir Peter Blake, Sir Anthony Caro and Antony Gormley are among the signatories who hope that Diana & Actaeon and Diana & Callisto will not be sold abroad. David Hockney, arguably Britain’s greatest living artist, said: “Diana & Actaeon is one of the greatest paintings in the world and the idea that it could leave the country is just appalling.”

Britain has only weeks left to safeguard the future of the 16th-century masterpieces. Their owner, the Duke of Sutherland, is offering them to the National Galleries of Edinburgh and London for £100 million. Their market value is estimated by experts to be nearer to £300 million.

If £50 million cannot be raised by the deadline of New Year’s Eve, the paintings could be sold on the open market. If the money can be found, Britain has four more years to find the other half of the cash.

These conditions were made in an offer by the Duke that would allow him the tax advantages of selling to a public collection.

The 60 artists are backing the campaign started in August by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery in London to raise the necessary money. Gormley is among those dipping into their own pockets to save the paintings.

With the buoyancy of the art market in recent years – which has withstood the financial crisis largely – some signatories, such as Damien Hirst, are multimillionaires.

“It is absolutely critical that we keep these paintings in Britain,” Gormley told The Times. Sir Anthony Caro, who was unveiling an ambitious church commission in France this weekend, said: “You don’t give away the family silver.” Alison Watt, the leading Scottish artist, said: “It’s inconceivable that these paintings might not be around to enjoy in future.”

The artists realise the political sensitivity of asking for £100 million during an economic crisis, but maintain that the paintings have captured the public’s imagination.

Young and old are responding to the cause. Students are planning to dress as characters from the paintings – with the addition of collection buckets – and press for donations. Pensioners have been giving £5. One woman sent in a £10 note to the National Galleries of Scotland with a letter, saying: “I’ve spent so much time in the galleries, saving money on my heating bills – this is the least I could do.” Another anonymous member of the public has given a six-figure sum.

If the two national galleries can acquire the Titians, this will also secure the long-term loan to the National Galleries of Scotland of the Duke’s Bridgewater Collection – which includes paintings by Rembrandt, Raphael and Rubens – for 21 years.

The two Titians would be displayed together and switched between Edinburgh and London every five years.

The paintings reflect the technical wizardry, narrative skill and psychological insight of the master at the height of his powers. Painted for King Philip II of Spain in the 1550s, they were purchased by the Duke of Bridgewater in 1798.

John Leighton, the director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, said that he was overwhelmed by the artists’ support.

“Some of the messages from individual artists have been fantastic – from the most traditional figurative painters through to avantgarde conceptualists,” he said. “It demonstrates the way these paintings still speak to artists at work today.”

As negotiations are taking place with various funding bodies – including The Art Fund, Britain’s leading art charity, and the National Heritage Memorial Fund – the galleries would not reveal how much of the necessary funding has been raised so far.

A spokeswoman said, however, that things were “looking promising”.

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