The UK has placed a temporary export bar on Seated Nymph, a rare Renaissance bronze by Italian sculptor Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi, known as Antico. Valued at £4.6 million, the work is now available for acquisition by UK museums and galleries until December 17.
Standing just under eight inches tall, the refined statuette demonstrates Antico's mastery of classical-inspired bronze casting. Its detailed finish includes mercury gilding, golden drapery and hair, and striking inlaid silvered eyes.
A rare Renaissance treasure
Antico was among the leading artists of the Mantuan court, celebrated for adapting the visual language of antiquity into small-scale, luxuriously finished sculptures. Original works attributed directly to him seldom appear on the market, making Seated Nymph an exceptional example of Renaissance craftsmanship.
The sculpture is believed to have been connected to the collecting circles of Isabella d'Este and the Gonzaga family in the early 16th century. It later passed through major British collections before being rediscovered at Woburn Abbey.
The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest supported the temporary measure, giving institutions time to secure the work for public access. The case highlights how cultural heritage initiatives can connect historic artistry with new generations of museum visitors.
Preserving works of this rarity in public collections could strengthen the UK's role as a living archive of Renaissance innovation, research and creative inspiration.
