A rare painting dating back over 500 years by a celebrated Italian artist, The Nativity by Baldassare Peruzzi, has gone on public display in Belfast.
One of only a handful of Peruzzi’s paintings known to be in existence, the work had been in a private collection in Britain for decades before being put up for sale.
Due to its rarity, an export bar had been placed on the painting to prevent it from leaving Britain and to give museums an opportunity to raise money for the painting’s asking price.
The Ulster Museum had just six months to raise the capital needed and was supported by several funders, including £70,000 grant from the Department of Communities.
Senior Curator of Art, Anne Stewart described the timing of the acquisition and display of the painting as something of a “Christmas miracle”.
Ms Stewart said, “most of Peruzzi’s work was in fresco and much has been lost.
“His oil paintings are extremely rare and so it’s something of a Christmas miracle that we are able to welcome visitors to the Ulster Museum to enjoy this exciting new acquisition.”