Dingo deal done
November 6 2013
Picture: NMM/Nevill Keating Pictures Ltd
Congratulations to the National Maritime Museum for acquiring Stubbs' depictions of a kangaroo and a dingo. The pictures had been destined to Australia, but a £4.5m fundraising effort secured them for the UK. A fine victory over the Aussies in time for the Ashes. The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Art Fund, and the Monument Trust all contributed, along with a magnificent £1.5m donation from shipping magnate Eyal Ofer. Well done everyone.
More details here.
Update - a reader writes:
Regarding these two Stubbs paintings, for the first time ever, I was not completely in favour of paintings being saved for the UK.
As an expat Australian I believe that both countries have an equal cultural claim for the painting. It's a shame that something could not have been worked out for a shared acquisition.
Nonetheless it is great to have them on my doorstep in Greenwich, well done NMM.
Update II - a reader writes:
SO thrilled to hear about the Stubbs paintings. You might mention that it is strange, if the Australians thought them so important, that they never attempted to borrow them for an exhibition, even though they were very well known, and had been on display at Parham Park for decades.
Update III - a reader disagrees:
I disagree about the Stubbses tho. David Attenborough was one of my first heroes - 'Fabulous Animals' got me into art and monsters - but I think he's wrong here. The paintings have far more emotional appeal Down Under, and could get people into Stubbs who might otherwise never have thought of him.
