'Castle could be a major art venue' (From The Northern Echo)

'Auckland Castle could be a major art venue'

8:30am Monday 14th February 2011 in Campaigns: Save The Zurbarans By Duncan Leatherdale

THE director of the National Gallery has urged the Church Commissioners to turn Auckland Castle into a major art attraction - with the threatened Zurbarans at its heart.

Nicholas Penny has warned that an irreplaceable part of North-East history would be lost if the 17th Century Spanish paintings are sold.

He suggests such an initiative could secure the future of the 13 eight foot-high paintings in the place where they have hung for the last 260 years.

"I really want great works of art like this to stay in the regions, and if a benefactor were to come forward and help turn Auckland Castle into more of a public amenity, I can imagine the National Gallery loaning items to it," he told The Northern Echo.

The Church Commissioners, who recently announced they no longer have any plans to sell the castle, expect to raise 15m by selling the paintings by Francisco de Zurbaran this summer.

"It is very upsetting that the church would be prepared to sacrifice such works of history and beauty," said Mr Penny.

"They have an enormous historical interest which is tied up with where they are and I doubt whether the North-East can afford to spare them."

Art historian Bob McManners, who is also chairman of Bishop Auckland Civic Society, said: "If we could access the national collections in the North-East, that would be a wonderful thing.

"Obviously there needs to be study, work and business plans but the castle is certainly viable and would make a wonderful venue for art, especially is it focused on our religious heritage."

Bishop Auckland county councillor Sam Zair also welcomed the concept. "It would be a huge step forward. People would come from all over to see collections here," he said.

"Not only would it raise revenue but it would also make Auckland Castle viable."

Zurbaran painted the set of Jacob and his 12 sons in the 1640s. They were bought in 1756 by Bishop Richard Trevor, the Bishop of Durham, and have hung in Auckland Castle for 260 years after it was extended to house them.

Mr Penny, who oversees one of the worlds greatest collections of Western European paintings at Londons National Gallery, is credited with discovering the Madonna of the Pinks by Raphael in Alnwick Castle in 1991. Art-lovers raised 35m to prevent it being sold abroad.

He described the Zurbarans as a "real rarity" and added: "If you see them in a place like Bishop Auckland, you have to ask how did they get there and why are they there.

"Those questions tell you about their importance and that would be lost if they were moved you cannot sell that context with them, and you cannot put a price on it."

Last weekend, Neil MacGregor, the head of the British Museum, also condemned the planned sale, describing them as a "great national treasure".

Due to the controversy, a working party headed by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sir Paul Nicholson, has until March to find alternatives to the sale.

The Church Commissioners have argued that the money raised could support an extra ten priests in poorer areas of England.

More hope of saving the paintings is pinned on any legal action Durham County Council might take against the Commissioners who do not have planning permission to remove the listed castles fixtures and fittings.