In July 2010 at auction Sotheby's «old masters and British painting "Los Angeles Getty Museum paid a record 29.7 million pounds (44,9 million dollars) for a painting by William Turner, Joseph Mellorda" Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino ». This is one of the last works the artist painted during his visits to the Italian capital. At the auction, monumental painting first appeared, and, of course, the stakes are high bidders were significantly higher than the upper estimate of 18 million pounds.

JOSEPH MELLORD William Turner Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino Sotheby's. 07/07/2010. Lot number 57 Estimate: 12-18 million pounds Result: 29,721,250 pounds Source: sothebys.com

without a fight to give her the Turner UK, of course, could not. Oversight Committee on the Export of works of art and cultural property immediately recognized the "Modern Rome" object of "national importance", which is closely related to the history of Britain and its people, and delayed the issuance of export licenses . First British institutions and individuals have given time till November, so they decided who would "save the painting for the nation." Then the time was extended to February 2, 2011.

Leaders Getty crossed fingers, hoping that his match on English soil is not there. Director, David Bomford (David Bomford) said that the mood was optimistic. After all, according to the law a British organization that decides to buy up the picture, is obliged to offer "fair market price", ie the same as paid for her foreign buyer at auction - and this is 29.7 million pounds.

On the other hand, in Los Angeles was still a fresh memory of the runaway purchase of Raphael in 2002. Then the Getty Museum is also not stinted, by paying 46.6 million dollars for "Madonna with the pinks." But London's National Gallery was right there with a return offer. Money collected by joint efforts, and the most significant (more than 50 per cent) was the contribution of the state.

But it seems that times are changing: public financing of cultural projects in Britain declining, and British museums have not always can withstand more wealthy American. And maybe the fact that the outstanding works of Turner in Britain and without much in contrast to Raphael.

Whatever it was, last week the Getty Museum after all received a license to export pictures "Modern Rome - Campo Vachchino. Until the end of February the picture to arrive in Los Angeles, where she was solemnly hoisted on a long prepared for her a wall in the department of British art of the XIX century, "the Getty Museum. Director, David Bomford and his colleagues are rejoicing, but to celebrate the start only after their Turner will take its place.

material was prepared by Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources: latimesblogs.latimes.com , artinvestment.ru