Reynolds Masterpiece Denied Exit From UK

An 18th-century painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds will remain in the UK despite its having been sold last year to a foreign institution. Keeping important works of art in country has become a crusade in Britain in recent years, and “the government slapped a temporary export ban on the sale to give the [Tate Modern] time to raise the necessary £3.2m” to buy the painting back. “The London gallery managed to meet the figure through a combination of grants, donations, the Tate’s own collection fund and £500,000 raised by the gallery’s own members.”