Great Britain introduced a ban on the export of paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder

LONDON. Great Britain introduced a temporary ban on the export of one of the most exquisite landscapes of the Flemish artist Jan Brueghel the Elder in an attempt to preserve the picture of the XVII century inside the country.

The Garden of Eden With the Fall of Man, 1613 has a size of only 23.7 cm by 36.8 cm, painted in oil. The painting was sold at Sotheby’s in London in July this year for $ 6.8 million, more than double the upper limit of the original estimate. Initially, the painting was acquired by Algernon Percy, the fourth duke of Northumberland, in 1853 and was for a long time in the castle of Alnwick.

The decision to sell the masterpiece belongs to its current owners, with whom, however, does not agree the Minister of Culture of Great Britain Ed Vaizey (Ed Vaizey). It was he who, by his decision, temporarily blocked the departure of the picture, as an exhibit of outstanding cultural and aesthetic significance. To finally resolve the issue of Britain, it is necessary to redeem the canvas for 6.9 million pounds sterling by March 4, 2015.

Jan Brueghel the Elder is revered as one of the greatest Flemish painters, author of extraordinary still lifes and landscapes. This picture is considered one of the best examples of its "paradise" landscapes, which is why the British authorities so do not want the picture to leave the country and settle in a private collection.

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru