Sotheby's Victorian Sale

Not to be outdone in the Beautiful Art Stakes, Sotheby's is bringing us a Victorian and Edwardian Art Sale on 9 December. John William Waterhouse's exquisite Flora (first exhibited at the RA in 1891) is a gem I wish to see bought for the nation. It's been in a private American collection for too long, and it's a snip at £200,000 to £300,000. Go on, National Gallery: L08132-129. Sale items will be on display at Sotheby's New Bond Street showrooms, London, from 5 December. There are also three paintings by John Atkinson Grimshaw, ranging from £40,000 to £600,000. Think how many British masterpieces we could save for the nation with that £50m which some twits are prepared to waste on a Titian.