British Minister of Culture Ed Wisey banned the export of paintings by Claude Lorren

LONDON. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey imposed a temporary ban on the export of a 17th-century painting by Claude Lorrain. Thus, the UK is trying to use the last chance to preserve a work of art domestically.

The painting “A Mediterranean port at sunrise with the Embarkation of Saint Paula for Jerusalem” is considered one of the best examples of marine painting and scenes in the harbor. But after the painting was sold to a foreign buyer for 5,066,500 pounds, she had to leave the UK.

Saint Paula is an image that was rarely used in art. After the death of her husband and eldest daughter, Paula, a Roman matron of noble birth, converted to Christianity, abandoned all property and left Rome, going to the Holy Land in 385 A.D.

Claude Lorren chose a rather intimate scene for his picture - the children and relatives of Paula cry and say goodbye to her. The artist was famous for his skill in the subtle transmission of the play of light, and in this case, the rays of the sun are associated with the presence of God to emphasize the importance of what is happening.

Concerning the canvas, Ed Wisey said: “I hope that a temporary ban on the export of this amazing picture will allow us to gain time and find a buyer within the country so that the picture is not lost to the nation. This is a canvas of exceptional beauty, and it would be a great pleasure to see it in the permanent exhibition of the UK gallery. ”

RCWA’s Aidan Weston-Lewis said: “This painting is a classic port scene that a seventeenth-century landscape painter can portray. For all his narrative interest, the real hero in this case is the golden light of sunrise over the sea, which washes the whole scene and fills it with extraordinary poetic beauty. ”

The ban on the export of paintings ends May 1, 2015. This period may be extended until November 1, 2015 in the event that a real buyer appears or the necessary amount of money is collected. In order for the picture to remain in the country, it is necessary to compensate the owner for its full cost. Fundraising for the purchase of paintings is already underway.

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru