ART FUND LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SAVE BRUEGHEL PAINTING

TODAY, THE NATIONAL TRUST AND THE ART FUND ARE LAUNCHING A £2.7 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO SAVE AN ICONIC OLD MASTER PAINTING FOR THE NATION. 'THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY' BY PIETER BRUEGHEL THE YOUNGER IS THE STAR ATTRACTION AT NOSTELL PRIORY IN YORKSHIRE, OWNED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST SINCE 1954, WHERE IT HAS HUNG FOR OVER 200 YEARS. NOW, HOWEVER, THE PAINTING, WHICH IS STILL OWNED BY LORD ST OSWALD, HAS BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE, WITH THE RISK THAT NOSTELL'S GREATEST WORK WILL NO LONGER BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. COMPLETED IN 1602, AND AMONGST BRUEGHEL THE YOUNGER'S FINEST WORKS, THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY SHOWS CHRIST CARRYING THE CROSS ON THE WAY TO HIS CRUCIFIXION. HE IS SURROUNDED BY OVER TWO HUNDRED FIGURES IN A VIBRANT NARRATIVE, SET IN A CONTEMPORARY FLEMISH LANDSCAPE. THE PAINTING INCLUDES A HOST OF CAREFULLY OBSERVED INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS: RELIGIOUS FIGURES, PEASANTS, CHILDREN, ANIMALS, GENTRY AND SOLDIERS. REMARKABLE FOR BOTH ITS COMPOSITIONAL DEXTERITY AND ITS DETAILED CHARACTERIZATIONS, THE PICTURE ALSO INCLUDES AMBIGUOUS SOCIAL AND POLITICAL NARRATIVES: 'THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY' IS ONE OF BRUEGHEL'S MOST INTRIGUING AND FASCINATING WORKS. THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GIVEN AN INITIAL MAJOR BOOST WITH £500,000 DONATION FORM THE ART FUND, BUT IT IS HOPED THAT THE REMAINING £2.2 MILLION CAN BE RAISED BY CHRISTMAS TO SECURE THE PAINTING'S FUTURE. TO ENABLE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO SEE 'THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY' DURING THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, THE PAINTING WILL BE DISPLAYED IN LONDON, AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY FROM 5.NOVEMBER AND THEN AT THE YORK ART GALLERY FROM 18.NOVEMBER UNTIL CHRISTMAS.