A remarkable painting by Botticelli, titled The Virgin and Child Enthroned, has been placed under an export ban to ensure its preservation within the UK. The artwork has been acquired by the Klesch Collection and will be showcased at the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, through a three-year loan.
As reported by The Art Newspaper, this exquisite piece, dating back to the 1470s, was valued at £10.2 million (approximately $13.9 million) last May, following its previous sale at Sotheby's for £9.7 million ($13.2 million).
Director of the Ashmolean Museum, Xa Sturgis, expressed enthusiasm regarding the acquisition, stating, "We warmly welcome 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 recognize the value of the Klesch Collection's commitment to lending works to public institutions."
The Klesch Collection, founded by Anglo-American industrialist Gary Klesch and his wife, art historian Anita Klesch, emphasizes European art from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Their collection has grown since the purchase of a Giuseppe Arcimboldo painting in 2014, now including masterpieces by renowned artists such as Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens.
Botticelli's masterpiece has a storied past, originally acquired in 1904 by Harriet Sarah Jones Loyd (Lady Wantage) from Italian dealer Elia Volpi, who obtained it from the family of Giovanni Magherini Graziani. The Ashmolean Museum, established in 1683, boasts a diverse collection that spans from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, illustrating the evolution of human culture through time.
Current exhibitions at the museum include "In Bloom: How Plants Changed Our World," featuring over 100 artworks and objects that highlight the transformative impact of exotic plants on various aspects of life, including landscapes and economies.
This acquisition not only enriches the Ashmolean's collection but also ensures that a significant piece of art history remains accessible to the public, fostering appreciation and understanding of our cultural heritage. As institutions like the Ashmolean continue to expand their collections, they play a crucial role in shaping the future of art appreciation and education.