Peter Paul Rubens Banqueting House Sketch Saved for the Nation

Sunday, 12 October 2008 19:45

LONDON.- Tate announced that the first preparatory sketch made by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) for his magnificent scheme of ceiling paintings in the Banqueting House, Whitehall, has been saved, thanks to the last-minute intervention of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Tate Members and The Art Fund, all of whom increased their original pledges on the day of the final deadline, 30 September 2008. The vendor of The Apotheosis of James I and other studies: sketch for the ceiling of the Banqueting House, Whitehall 1628-30, whose family has owned the work for over two centuries, also generously agreed to waive £300,000 from the asking price of £6M and accept £5.7M net of tax. The work was valued at £11.5M.

The fundraising campaign was launched by Tate in March 2008 working in close partnership with the leading independent art charity, The Art Fund, which granted £500,000 and later an additional £100,000 to help bridge the end gap. This is the largest gift The Art Fund has granted towards a single work of art. The major donor was the National Heritage Memorial Fund, a fund of 'last resort' for the nation’s most outstanding pieces of heritage, which granted £2M in July and then in an exceptional move granted a further £221,000 to take us to the £5.7M on the last day. Tate Members made the second largest gift of £1.5M, including £45,000 from individual members following a direct appeal for support, to celebrate their 50th anniversary. This is the largest contribution made by Tate Members towards an acquisition. Tate Trustees committed £1M of Tate funds towards the purchase. The Monument Trust gave £150,000 and additional generous donations were received from Manny and Brigitta Davidson, The Michael Marks Charitable Trust, Danny Katz, Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly, The Basil Samuel Charitable Trust, The Flow Foundation and David and Susan Gradel via The Art Fund.

Stephen Deuchar, Director of Tate Britain said: “I am simply thrilled that the Rubens sketch has been saved for the nation and that it will now hang on permanent display at Tate Britain. This is the first Rubens work to enter Tate’s Collection and is a unique treasure in the history of British art. It is the only sketch for the overall composition of the Banqueting House ceiling that exists, and by acquiring this painting we can begin to represent the magnitude of Rubens’s importance in British culture."

Rubens has always been recognised as one of the greatest painters in Western art and his ceiling paintings for the Banqueting House, Whitehall comprise the most important artistic commission of the period in Britain. The Apotheosis of James I and other studies gives a crucial insight into the artist's earliest ideas for the design.

The Banqueting House was designed by Inigo Jones and constructed between 1619 and 1621. Rubens was in London from 1629-30 acting as a diplomat working for peace between Spain and England. During his time here the commission to paint the ceiling was confirmed. This initial sketch was probably painted in London and shown to King Charles I, James I’s son, for approval. The final nine canvasses were painted in his Antwerp studio and installed in London around mid-March 1636.