UK's bid to save Titian's 'Diana and Actaeon' close to fruition

London, Dec 14 (ANI): Britain's fundraising campaign to buy Titian's Diana and Actaeon has been put on track to achieve the 50 million pounds asking price - raising hopes that the masterpiece will be saved for the nation.

The deadline for the campaign is 31 December.

According to sources, the Scottish government will give the campaign a boost of 10million pounds, while the National Gallery in London will pledge about 12 million pounds and the National Galleries of Scotland a further 2million pounds, reports TimesOnline.

Money will also come from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Until now, 11million pounds had been publicly pledged.

Another 8million pounds are coming from private donors.

Diana and Actaeon has been on public display at the National Galleries of Scotland and London for more than 200 years but it is now being sold by its private owner, the Duke of Sutherland.

If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then a second Titian painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.

If they fail to raise the required 50million pounds then Diana and Actaeon will be sold to a private buyer. (ANI)