The £9 million Claude Lorrain masterpiece, 'Landscape with Rural Dance', is under threat of leaving the UK. The painting, once part of a Flemish merchant's collection in Rome, has been a resident at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, for over 250 years. But now, the Bedford Estates, the abbey's trustees, are considering selling it to fund the extensive seven-year renovation project. The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) has stepped in, imposing a temporary export ban to give UK galleries and institutions a chance to acquire the painting for the nation. This move has sparked debate, as the sale is seen as a strategic decision to preserve and enhance the abbey's collection. The DCMS highlights the painting's historical significance, painted in Rome around 1640, and its importance to the study of Claude Lorrain and the evolution of landscape painting. The reviewing committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest has recommended keeping the painting in the UK, citing its outstanding aesthetic and historical value. Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross, expresses hope that the painting will remain in the country for many more years, but the final decision on the export license will be made on April 15th.
