NATIONAL TRUST SAVES RARE BAROQUE MASTERPIECE

ONE OF THE GREATEST WORKS BY THE ITALIAN BAROQUE MASTER DOMENICHINO (1581–1641) IS TO REMAIN IN BRITAIN AND IS NOW ON PUBLIC DISPLAY IN ROOM 32 OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY, HAVING BEEN ACQUIRED BY AN ANONYMOUS PRIVATE COLLECTOR. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OUTCOME FOR THE NATION AND A TRIUMPH OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE REVIEWING COMMITTEE ON THE EXPORT OF WORKS OF ART AND OBJECTS OF CULTURAL INTEREST (RCEWA) AND THE ANONYMOUS PRIVATE COLLECTOR, RESULTING FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE 'RIDLEY RULES'. 'SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST' IS THE FINEST PAINTING BY DOMENICHINO TO REMAIN IN PRIVATE HANDS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF HIS WORK IN THE UK. MEASURING 259x199 cm, THE MONUMENTAL OIL PAINTING IS A MUST SEE HIGHLIGHT FOR VISITORS TO THE ITALIAN BAROQUE ROOMS OF THE NATIONAL TRUST. NATIONAL TRUST CURATOR DAWSON CARR SAID: 'DEPICTIONS OF DIVINE INSPIRATION WERE A MAINSTAY OF BAROQUE ARTISTS, AND THE HEROIC POSE AND FOCUSED, SERENE GAZE OF DOMENICHINO'S FIGURE MAKE IT ONE OF THE FINEST INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CLASSICAL TRADITION. ALTHOUGH DOMENICHINO IS WELL REPRESENTED IN UK PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS, NONE OF THE PAINTINGS CAN EQUAL THE GRAND SCALE AND CONCEPTION OF THIS, ONE OF HIS GREATEST EASEL PAINTINGS. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST WORK BY THE ARTIST REMAINING IN PRIVATE HANDS AND ITS EXPORT WOULD HAVE BEEN LAMENTABLE FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF ITALIAN BAROQUE PAINTING IN THIS COUNTRY.' THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME COMES JUST MONTHS AFTER THE RCEWA PLACED AN EXPORT LICENSE DEFERRAL ON THE PAINTING, OWING TO ITS OUTSTANDING AESTHETIC IMPORTANCE. IT HAD ALREADY BEEN SOLD TO AN OVERSEAS BUYER FOR £9,225,250 AT AN AUCTION IN DECEMBER 2009. WITH THE EXPORT DEFERRAL IN PLACE, A NEW COLLECTOR CAME FORWARD WISHING TO ACQUIRE THE PAINTING, TO KEEP IT IN THE UK AND TO MAKE PROVISION FOR ITS REGULAR PUBLIC DISPLAY. THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 'RIDLEY RULES', WHICH CAN ONLY BE APPLIED AFTER IT IS CLEAR THAT NO UK INSTITUTION IS ABLE TO RAISE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO ACQUIRE THE WORK. THE 'RIDELY RULES' THEN ALLOWS FOR OFFERS FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, WHO WILL GUARANTEE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTWORK FOR 100 DAYS WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ARRANGEMENT, THE PAINTING WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY FROM 10.MAY FOR A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS.