BBC News | ARTS | Gallery buys historical treasure

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh has bought an historically-important painting for more than �1m with help from the National Lottery.

The painting by Gavin Hamilton, entitled Douglas, 8th Duke of Hamilton with Dr Moore and John Moore, was purchased for �1.24m.

A grant of �804,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund went some way towards achieving the purchase.

Other contributions included �94,000 from the National Art Collections Fund (The Art Fund), an independent art charity. The remaining �340,000 came from the National Galleries of Scotland.

'Marvellous'

The portrait shows the 8th Duke of Hamilton in Rome flanked by his tutor Dr Moore and Dr Moore's son.

It was sold by the current Duke of Hamilton to raise funds for the Lennoxlove Trust, which pays for the upkeep of his home, which is open to the public in East Lothian. The painting has been on display at Lennoxlove since 1947.

Timothy Clifford, director general of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: "The portrait of the 8th Duke of Hamilton is a fine example of Grand Tour portraiture at its best, and it will make a marvellous addition to the Portrait Gallery's collection."

'Important window'

This wonderful painting is of great importance in telling the story of Scotland's rich and vivid history.

James Holloway, Scottish National Portrait Gallery Director
The Heritage Lottery Fund's Manager for Scotland, Colin McLean, said: "This painting is not only striking to look at but it provides an important window into the history of eighteenth-century Scotland.

"It is a significant work which is of national importance. The Heritage Lottery Fund is committed to making sure that works such as this are kept in the country so that it is the people of Scotland that are able to see, enjoy and learn from them."

James Holloway, director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, said: "This wonderful painting is of great importance in telling the story of Scotland's rich and vivid history, and we are very grateful to the Duke of Hamilton for helping us to keep it in the country, for the benefit of the Scottish public."

The painting is the gallery's biggest acquisition since 1996 when an oil sketch called Princess Elizabeth and Princess Anne, daughters of Charles I, painted by Sir Anthony van Dyck in 1637 was purchased for �2.2m.


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