THE RACE to keep one of Scotland’s most valued pieces of art in the public eye was spurred on last week, after The Art Fund donated £1 million to keep Titian’s ‘Diana and Actaeon’ in the National Gallery of Scotland. THE RACE to keep one of Scotland’s most valued pieces of art in the public eye was spurred on last week, after The Art Fund donated £1 million to keep Titian’s ‘Diana and Actaeon’ in the National Gallery of Scotland.

This, the largest donation in the charity’s 105 year history, comes as a “huge boost” to the campaign according to John Leighton, Director of the National Gallery of Scotland, which has joined forces with London’s National Gallery in its efforts.

The painting has been offered at £50 million - a third of its estimated value and a sum that these two galleries must raise before 31 December, or risk losing one of the most important examples of Renaissance art from the renowned Bridgewater collection.

To lose this painting, Leighton commented, “would be like the Mona Lisa being taken out of the Louvre”.

‘Diana and Actaeon’, along with its sister painting ‘Diana and Callisto’ were designed by Titian as part of a series for King Philip II of Spain during the sixteenth century and remain leading examples of his wide contribution to Renaissance art.

The Duke of Sutherland, owner of the Bridgewater collection, has offered these two paintings for sale in a bid to raise £100 million.

Whilst funds to secure ‘Diana and Actaeon’ must be found before the New Year, the galleries will have until 2012 to acquire ‘Diana and Callisto’. If this is accomplished then the Bridgewater collection, which also includes works by Poussin and Rembrandt, will remain on public display for the next 21 years. If not then these masterpieces may once more be confined to private ownership.

The Art Fund’s director, David Barrie, stressed that even in our economic environment it is important to make investments in these masterpieces to ensure they remain available to the wider public. Barrie said: “Today we have put our money on the table. Now others must come together if this extraordinarily important painting is to be kept where it belongs”.