Museum acquisitions
Museums often acquire works through donations but, in spite of funding constraints, they also make purchases to expand their collections, either bidding at auctions, negotiating private treaty sales or, in the UK, via the Acceptance in Lieu scheme.
Getty Museum buys an ‘Elgin marble’ – but not a Greek one
09 December 2021The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angles has acquired an early first-century marble bust of the Roman general Germanicus, the adopted son of the Emperor Tiberius and father of Caligula.
National Trust property secures 18th-century portrait destined for auction after anonymous donor steps in
18 November 2021A portrait by renowned society artist Thomas Hudson (1701-79) has been secured for National Trust property Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire.
‘Largest ever’ Anglo-Saxon coin hoard discovered in UK
08 November 2021The largest ever Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard discovered in the UK has been declared treasure after a complex inquest into the case.
Chippendale-Garrick invoice sold to society
08 November 2021A previously unknown bill for furnishings supplied by Thomas Chippendale (1718-79) has been bought at auction on behalf of The Chippendale Society (TCS).
Getty Museum acquires major Italian Old Master
30 October 2021The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has acquired a painting by Venetian artist Jacopo Bassano (c.1510-1592).
Roman bronzes find home at Yorkshire Museum
27 October 2021A wealthy US donor and a London antiquities dealership helped ensure a hoard of Roman bronzes recently discovered by metal detectorists will soon be on public display.
Midlands furniture dealer sells 18th century commode to Temple Newsam in Leeds
19 October 2021Thomas Coulborn & Sons has celebrated BADA Week by announcing the sale of an 18th century commode to Leeds Museums & Galleries for close to £200,000.
Yorkshire Museum buys Ryedale Roman Bronzes from London dealer with help from wealthy donor
15 October 2021A hoard of Roman bronzes discovered by metal detectors and sold at auction by Hansons in May has been sold to the Yorkshire Museum.
Versailles acquires bust of Sun King’s doctor from London dealer following TEFAF 2020 fair
06 October 2021The Chateau de Versailles in France has purchased a sculpture of Louis XIV’s (1643-1715) surgeon.
Dealer spots “dirty and unattributed” portrait and sells it back to historic mansion
20 September 2021This recently discovered 18th century portrait was painted by John Vanderbank (1694-1739) and depicts Holles St John of Lydiard Park.
Édouard Manet portrait in Welsh museum gets funding for restoration from TEFAF grant
28 August 2021The National Museum Wales has received a €20,000 (£17,130) grant to restore an Édouard Manet (1832-83) picture.
Texas museum buys courtly Spanish portrait at Christie’s
24 August 2021The Meadows Museum in Dallas, Texas has announced that it was the buyer of a Spanish Baroque Old Master at a Christie’s auction last year.
Baroque chess set bought at TEFAF unveiled at Polish museum
09 August 2021This impressive Baroque chess set by the Danzig amber artist Michel Redlin has returned to the city of Gdansk in Poland where it was made over 300 years ago.
Lawrence’s ‘The Red Boy’ bought by The National Gallery in deal via Christie’s
24 July 2021The National Gallery is to acquire a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) with the help of charitable donations and advice from Christie’s.
A dozen ‘national treasures’ saved for the nation after export licence blocks
21 July 2021A dozen items deemed national treasures were bought by institutions between May 2018 and April 2020 with a value of £7.6m, according to the latest report.
French state buys infamous Marquis de Sade’s manuscript with help from a wealthy banker
13 July 2021France’s Ministry of Culture announced the acquisition by the state of the ‘120 days of Sodom’ by the Marquis de Sade and a number of other manuscripts.
Pick of the week: Helmet heads to Philadelphia
12 July 2021A Renaissance helmet sold at a London auction will be reunited with its garniture (set of armour) after being bought by Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA).
Duchess daughters reunited via dealer and saleroom
28 June 2021These pastel portraits depicting Georgiana and Henrietta Cavendish, the two legitimate daughters of Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, are soon to hang side by side for the first time in over a century.
Fundraising begins for Brontë Honresfield Library collection after Sotheby's postpones auction to give museums more time
17 June 2021Sotheby’s has delayed the sale of a library collection related to the Brontë family to give a chance for institutions to raise funds to buy it.
Pick of Week: Fred Perry medal nets £20,000 from Wimbledon museum
14 June 2021Gold medal won at Wimbledon in 1936 by British tennis great is purchased by the Lawn Tennis Museum at the All England Lawn Tennis Club
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