Goodbye, Brit Art

It looks as though it's time to wave goodbye to more masterpieces of British art. On 11 July Christie’s at King Street, London, will hold its auction of Important Victorian & British Impressionist Art (CLICK). Up for grabs are Sir John Everett Millais' delightful Portrait of Lady Campbell, née Nina Lehmann (1884) and Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones' sumptuous Love among the Ruins (1873). The latter is estimated at £3 million to £5 million. CLICK for a larger image. These are just two of the masterpieces in this sale, Why do I think they will be lost to the nation? 1) British public galleries are skint. 2) Government cutbacks. 3) The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) has proved itself more interested in works of art sold by British aristocrats than in British art. So, why not pop along to Christie's just before the sale and see what we're going to lose?