Fanny Claus Update

I reported the UK government's export ban on Edouard Manet's Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus (1868) last February (CLICK). The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford wants to buy it for £7.8m. The latest news is that the museum has received a £5.9m donation from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is on top of £750,000 from The Art Fund and £200,000 from private individuals (CLICK). So, it's almost in the bag. The rest must be found by 7 August or Fanny goes to a foreign buyer for £28.35m.