British galleries scramble to save Titian likened to Mona Lisa

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Two British galleries are scrambling to find 50 million pounds in four months to keep a painting by Titian, the loss of which would be like the Louvre selling the Mona Lisa, an art chief said Thursday.

"Diana And Actaeon" by the Italian Renaissance master is currently on show at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh and is owned by the Duke of Sutherland, one of Scotland's wealthiest aristocrats.

But the duke wants to sell the painting and has offered it to the National Galleries of Scotland, which runs the Edinburgh venue, and London's National Gallery for the bargain price of 50 million pounds (62 million euros, 92 million dollars).

Experts say the painting would fetch at least 100 million pounds on the open market.

John...