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National Gallery buys piece by unknown artist for £16m

The Independent

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May 03, 2025

Painting from 1500s was purchased from a private collection

- ATHENA STAVROU

National Gallery buys piece by unknown artist for £16m

The National Gallery has spent more than £16m on a mysterious painting - despite not knowing who the artist is.

The 16th-century altarpiece - which has not been exhibited in over 60 years - was bought by the gallery from a private collection for £16.4m, making it one of the largest ever purchases for the national collection.

But a panel of experts were unable to agree on the identity of the artist, and the gallery now hopes further research will solve the “conundrum” of its origin.

Dating from about 1510, the painting depicts a virgin and child at its centre, with two saints, two playful angels, a naughty child and a “magnificent slobbering dragon”.

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