The UK government has taken steps to keep in the
country two oil paintings that gave the 18th Century British public their first
chance to see what a kangaroo and a dingo looked like.
A temporary
export bar has been placed on the two George Stubbs works, which went on
display in London in 1773.
However,
potential buyers will have to come up with £5.5m if the paintings are to stay
in the UK.
Stubbs was
unable to paint the animals in the flesh so used spoken accounts.
He also made
sketches after inflating the preserved skin of a kangaroo.
The Kongouro
From New Holland (The Kangaroo) and Portrait of a Large Dog (The Dingo) were
first shown at London's Royal Academy in 1773.
They have been
praised for bringing the animals, most closely identified with Australia, to
the attention of the British public.
The works are
thought to have been commissioned by Sir Joseph Banks following his part in
Captain James Cook's first voyage of discovery to the Pacific.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey announced the export bar
following a recommendation by the reviewing
committee on the export of works of art and objects of cultural interest.
Committee chairman Lord Inglewood said it would be a
"terrible shame" to lose the "extraordinary paintings" to
an overseas buyer.
"They were the British public's first
introduction to these exotic animals from the Australasian New World which was
opening up at that time," he said.
The export bar remains in place until 5 August, and
can be extended until 5 November if a serious intention to raise funds to buy
the paintings for £5.5m is made.
Source: BBC
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