Heritage fund gives its entire grant to protect masterpiece

THE campaign to save a Titian masterpiece was given a £10 million boost today.

The National Heritage Memorial Fund, set up as Britain's fund of last resort for saving treasures at risk, made the award to help stop the potential loss of the painting of Diana And Actaeon overseas.

In an indication of the importance of the work, the sum amounts to the fund's entire annual government grant.

The 7th Duke of Sutherland owns the 16th century painting which has been on public loan to the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh.

He now wants to sell and has offered it at a below-market price of £50million. The Scottish galleries have joined with the National Gallery in London to raise the funds.

The painting is at the National Gallery until 14 December. Artist Bridget Riley, 77, was today to become the latest to pay homage to the Titian, after Lucian Freud, Peter Blake, Paula Rego, Tracey Emin and Michael Craig-Martin joined in support. Jenny Abramsky, who recently took over as chairwoman of the heritage fund, said: "It was an extraordinary decision for us financially, but it's as important as ever to protect our cultural heritage."

The Titian, based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, is part of the Bridgewater Collection, which the duke has on loan. He has promised the rest can stay on public view for at least 21 years as long as Diana And Actaeon is purchased.

Ms Abramsky said the continued loan of what is the greatest private collection of Old Masters on loan to any public gallery in the world also contributed to the fund's decision.

Nicholas Penny, director of the National Gallery, said that the galleries were "enormously grateful".

The galleries, which would share the work, have until the end of the year to raise the remaining millions needed.