There's a Brueghel in our public library? Sell it!
October 18 2017
Picture: ArtUK
There's been yet another move here in the UK to sell paintings in local public collections. In Arbroath, in North East Scotland, a Liberal Democrat councillor has suggested two large paintings by Peter Brueghel the Younger should be sold to plug holes in the council's budget. The pictures, The Adoration of the Magi (above) and Saint John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness, were given to the people of Arbroath in the 19th century and hang in the local library. They are worth many millions of pounds.
The Times covered the story yesterday, quoting yours truly in full on how dare you sell these pictures! mode. But Councillor Lawrie had this to say:
“I’m sure they’re of significant cultural value but I don’t see how this benefits the average Angus resident,” Mr Lawrie said.
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By coincidence, the pictures will be featured on tonight's episode of 'Britain's Lost Masterpieces', on BBC4 at 9pm. We will be visiting a fascinating local arts centre in Arbroath called Hospitalfield, to look at a mystery 16th Century portrait. It so happens that there are plans to build a new gallery at Hospitalfield to display the Brueghels - but if I was involved in these plans I'd be alarmed by any indication that the council might sell the paintings instead. What would be the point in building a new gallery?
Update - Councillor Lawrie tweets in response to my comments:
I’m a proud philistine if that means trying to find all options to fund health and social care.
Does he not accept that museums and art have proven health and social benefits?
Update II - in response to the story, here are some wise words from the director of Hospitalfield, Lucy Byatt.
