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Francis Bacon rugs and triptych saved … for now Francis Bacon rugs and triptych saved … for now
(3 days later)
The government has placed temporary export bars on four works by Francis Bacon – including one of his earliest existing paintings – to ensure they are not sold to foreign buyers.The government has placed temporary export bars on four works by Francis Bacon – including one of his earliest existing paintings – to ensure they are not sold to foreign buyers.
A painted screen by Bacon valued at £2.5m and three rugs, described by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as among the “finest modernist carpets in existence”, will not be allowed to leave the UK for the time being to give public institutions the chance to raise funds to buy them.A painted screen by Bacon valued at £2.5m and three rugs, described by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as among the “finest modernist carpets in existence”, will not be allowed to leave the UK for the time being to give public institutions the chance to raise funds to buy them.
The art minister Michael Ellis said: “Francis Bacon is one of our most respected and renowned artists, whose works had a huge influence on modern art. It is right that we try to keep these outstanding works in this country, where they could inspire our next generation of world-class artists.” The arts minister, Michael Ellis, said: “Francis Bacon is one of our most respected and renowned artists, whose works had a huge influence on modern art. It is right that we try to keep these outstanding works in this country, where they could inspire our next generation of world-class artists.”
Export bars can be placed on work which the government deems should be “saved for the nation”. In 2012, Edouard Manet’s Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus was sold to a foreign buyer for £28m at auction before being put under a temporary export bar and eventually sold to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford for £7.8m. In January 2018, Ellis put an export bar on the JMW Turner painting Ehrenbreitstein to allow UK buyers more time to meet the £18,533,750 asking price.Export bars can be placed on work which the government deems should be “saved for the nation”. In 2012, Edouard Manet’s Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus was sold to a foreign buyer for £28m at auction before being put under a temporary export bar and eventually sold to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford for £7.8m. In January 2018, Ellis put an export bar on the JMW Turner painting Ehrenbreitstein to allow UK buyers more time to meet the £18,533,750 asking price.
The Bacon screen print was created around 1930 and was his first triptych, presented as an altarpiece and carved on three panels. The rugs were hand-knotted at the Royal Wilton carpet factory in 1929 and designed to be hung. The Bacon screen print was created around 1930 and was his first triptych, presented as an altarpiece and painted on three panels. The rugs were hand-knotted at the Royal Wilton carpet factory in 1929 and designed to be hung.
Richard Calvocoressi, who was part of the committee that recommended the export bars, said the pieces needed to be protected because Bacon had destroyed so much of his early work.Richard Calvocoressi, who was part of the committee that recommended the export bars, said the pieces needed to be protected because Bacon had destroyed so much of his early work.
“It is crucial that we try to retain these rare early examples in this country,” he said. “Bacon’s first short career as an interior designer informed so much of his later painting.”“It is crucial that we try to retain these rare early examples in this country,” he said. “Bacon’s first short career as an interior designer informed so much of his later painting.”
• This article was amended on 29 April 2019 because the triptych was said to be carved. This has been changed to painted.
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