A 15th century Italian painting has been placed under an export ban to keep it in the UK, resulting in it being displayed publicly for the first time in 80 years.
The Virgin and Child Enthroned, by Botticelli, was acquired by American collectors A. Gary and Dr. Anita Klesch on April 29.
The painting, dating back to the 1470s, is part of their ‘Klesch collection’ of 15th century to 17th century European art.
Now, after the export ban, the painting will be on a three-year loan to the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford.
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The work had been value last May for £10.2 million, previously it had sold at Sotheby’s in London for £9.7 million
In a statement, the director of the Ashmolean Museum, Xa Sturgis, said the institution “warmly welcomes this acquisition of a painting by one of the most important artists in the Western tradition, and we’re so pleased that it will remain in the UK.
“We recognise the value of the Klesch Collection’s commitment to lending works to public institutions.”
The Botticelli painting was housed in the Convent of San Giuliano in Florence in the early 19th century where it was then passed into the family of Giovanni Magherini Graziani, who sold it in November 1903 to the Italian dealer, Elia Volpi.
Harriet Sarah Jones Loyd (Lady Wantage) bought the work from Volpi in May 1904 for £5,000.
The Botticelli painting had been kept at Betterton House, near Wantage, Berkshire, since 1944.
