Recently, the British Times newspaper reported that the Duke Sazerlendsky that summer threatened to take away from the National Galleries of Scotland owned by his family paintings Titian, if the museum did not pay him 100 million pounds , made a statement.

Remember that these are two canvases of great Venetians - «Diana and Acteon» and «Diana and Callisto». Since 1945, they are in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. In August last year, Duke Sazerlendsky said he wants to sell some works of art from its extensive collection, valued at an amount in excess of a billion pounds. He said that the masterpieces of Titian, too, will go under the hammer, if the museum did not redeem them for 100 million pounds. In proposing the museum paintings for the price of 50 million each, he introduced it as a great favor - on the open market, these works would cost much more expensive (Newspaper The Art Newspaper appreciated their total cost of 300 million pounds). To collect 50 million for the purchase of one of the paintings - «Diana and Acteon», Duke gave the National Gallery just over four months. And another work, «Diana and Callisto», must be bought before 2013.

At «Diana and Acteon» money collected «world». London National Gallery has allocated 12.5 million pounds, the National Heritage Memorial Fund (National Heritage Memorial Fund) - 10 million, and the organization of The Art Fund - 1 million. Another 17.5 million, according to rumors, the government has in Scotland. Save a masterpiece for the nation called many famous British artists, including David Hockney (David Hockney), ( Tracey Emin) , Damien Hurst (Damien Hirst) and Lusien Freud (Lucian Freud). The latter, incidentally, has called the most beautiful paintings Titian paintings in the world. In mid-December, sources close to the organizers of fund-raising campaign, said that «Diana and Acteon» bound to be bought by the end of December. But unfortunately, those projections proved overly optimistic - the New Year and Christmas celebrations are already otgremeli, and 50 million to collect or not. Duke has agreed to wait a little bit, but recently said that very, very unhappy.

Duke said that he is having is that the museum was unable to pay him the money on time. According to him, agreeing to give up painting «on the cheap», he loses many millions. He believes that the National Gallery has made a very good offer, but it «pulling».

But not all believe that the picture of Titian is to fight. In the Scottish Parliament, even for just, according to the Duke, an amount of 17.5 million ran these battles. «Hard to call a national heritage of the UK picture, written by some Venetians, who died a long time», - resent MP Yen Davidson (Ian Davidson). «There is a considerable number of works of art, not a pity to spend state funds, but I do not think it's worth giving this obscene amount of money [for the« Diana and Acteon ». - Ed. ], especially given the the fact that the National Gallery already has about 20 paintings by Titian. Very few people ever hear of Titsiane, many think that it was somehow an Italian football player. Why would so blow the money? »Now the country's campaign to attract children of emigrants who left Scotland a long time. Davidson believes that they are unlikely to want to return to the country, which in times of severe economic crisis favors such huge amounts of wealth (the state of the Duke Sazerlendskogo estimated at 230 million pounds).

Duke Sazerlendsky not understand why the so-Davidson boil. «I do not understand why it was here pripletat class struggle. This is just a picture. They are either worth it to keep them in the National Gallery in Edinburgh, or not. That is the question ».

By the way, spreading about how it unprofitable to sell the picture of the National Gallery, the Duke a little shitril. Writes Times, selling «Diana and Acteon» at public auction or privately, he could get 150 million pounds, of which at least 60 million would give the Treasury as taxes. And if the canvas will be purchased by the museum, Duke exempt from taxes.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Source: artinfo.com , timesonline.co.uk , artinvestment.ru