A Baroque landscape masterpiece valued at £9 million has been placed under a temporary export ban, giving UK institutions a final opportunity to keep the work in the country.
Claude Lorrain’s ‘Landscape with Rural Dance’, painted in Rome around 1640, is regarded as one of the finest examples of the artist’s work and among the most ambitious landscapes of the seventeenth century. The decision to block its export was taken to allow time for a British gallery or public institution to raise funds to acquire the painting for the nation.
Measuring an impressive 118 x 148.5 cm, the painting depicts shepherds tending their flocks while making music, set within an idealised pastoral world far removed from urban life. The scene reflects a popular poetic vision of the period, celebrating harmony between humanity and nature.
Experts consider the work a high point of Claude Lorrain’s career. Its scale, confident handling and luminous quality place it among his most important achievements. The artist’s celebrated mastery of light — particularly the warm, golden glow of morning or evening sun reflected across water — is on full display, bathing the coastal landscape in an atmospheric radiance.
Claude Lorrain, named after his birthplace in the Duchy of Lorraine, was born to a peasant family before travelling through Germany and Italy. He eventually settled in Rome, where he produced ‘Landscape with Rural Dance’. Over time, his poetic approach to landscape painting would profoundly influence European art and British taste in particular.
The painting has been in the UK for more than 250 years and was previously displayed at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire as part of the renowned collection of the Dukes of Bedford. Earlier records trace it to the collection of a Flemish merchant in Rome, highlighting a rich and still-researched provenance.
Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said: “This beautiful painting presents a stunning window into the pastoral idylls of the seventeenth century. Claude Lorrain’s work is remarkable to view, drawing you ever deeper into the scene with each exquisite detail.
We are very fortunate to have had this incredible painting in the UK for over 250 years. I hope it can remain in the UK to be enjoyed by the public for many years longer”.
Christopher Baker, Committee Member said:“Claude created a deeply seductive, escapist vision of the warmth of southern Europe through his bucolic and poetic landscape paintings. This serene example, from about 1640, shows him at the height of his powers. He worked for kings, cardinals and diplomats; however, it was first recorded in the collection of a Flemish merchant in Rome and was later displayed for many years at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, as part of the splendid collection of the Dukes of Bedford. Because of its transcendent beauty and fascinating history, which warrants further research, as well as the profound influence of such paintings on British taste, every effort should be made to secure it for a public collection”.
The export licence application has now been deferred until 15 April 2026. During this period, UK institutions can seek to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £9 million, plus VAT of £1.64 million, which may be reclaimed by eligible buyers. A further six-month deferral may follow if an option agreement is signed.
Ministers may also consider lower offers from public bodies through private treaty arrangements, which often provide significant financial advantages for institutions seeking to acquire works of national importance.
If no buyer is found by the end of the process, the painting could still leave the UK — marking the loss of one of the most significant Baroque landscapes ever to have been held in Britain.