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£5.4million Turner masterpiece lost to the British nation

The painting, entitled Pope's Villa at Twickenham, had been on display at Sudeley Castle, the Gloucestershire home of Lady Ashcombe, for more than 160 years but was sold last year for £5.4 million at Sotheby's to an anonymous American buyer.

Lady Ashcombe, whose son Henry Dent-Brocklehurst, is a film producer, and a friend of Elizabeth Hurley, decided to sell the painting to maintain the castle.

The Government initially barred its export for three months, in an attempt to give a British art gallery, museum or individual the opportunity to raise a matching sum and keep the painting in the country.

However the ban expired at midnight on Monday without a domestic buyer for the work, which dates from 1808, having come forward...

Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)