Giovanni da Rimini

Last year the Duke of Northumberland flogged Giovanni da Rimini's Scenes from the Lives of the Virgin and other Saints (1300-05) which had been hanging in Alnwick Castle since 1853. A temporary export ban was slapped on the painting to see if £4,919,000 could be raised to buy if for the nation. American businessman, philanthropist and art collector Ronald S. Lauder came up with the readies and an unusual offer. The National Gallery will loan him the painting for the rest of his life! He will return the painting to the gallery every three years, beginning in 2017. The painting is owned by the National Gallery (CLICK).