THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM ACQUIRES 'YOUNG WOMAN TUNING A FLUTE'

THE ART FUND HAS HELPED THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM, CAMBRIDGE ENRICH ITS WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION WITH A CARAVAGGIO-INSPIRED OIL ON CANVAS. 'YOUNG WOMAN TUNING A LUTE (1626-27) BY HENDRIK TER BRUGGHEN, IS NOW ON PUBLIC DISPLAY WITHIN THE FITZWILLIAM'S FINE COLLECTION OF DUTCH PAINTINGS. THE ART FUND GAVE £225,000 TO MAKE THE ACQUISITION POSSIBLE, ALONGSIDE THE MLA/V&A PURCHASE GRANT FUND WHICH GAVE £50,000. THIS IS THE MUSEUM'S FIRST ACQUISITION OF A WORK BY TER BRUGGHEN, ONE OF THE LEADING PAINTERS AMONGST THE UTRECHT FOLLOWERS OF CARAVAGGIO. IT IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF WORKS BY THIS ARTIST IN THE UK. TER BRUGGHEN, WHO DIED AT A YOUNG AGE, WAS AN IMPORTANT INNOVATOR FOR LATER DUTCH 17th CENTURY GENRE PAINTINGS. MORE RECENTLY HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN UNORTHODOX BUT SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE WORK OF ARTISTS SUCH AS VERMEER. THE WORK WAS PREVIOUSLY ON LOAN TO THE FITZWILLIAM BUT THE PURCHASE MEANS THAT GENERATIONS TO COME WILL BE ABLE TO ADMIRE THE SKILL AND SUBTLETY OF TER BRUGGHEN'S ART. 'YOUNG WOMAN TUNING A LUTE' CAN NOW BE SEEN IN GALLERY 15 AT THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM.