Madonna worth over £10m under protection as government blocks export of Botticelli's work

After a thrilling auction at Sotheby's and the sale of Botticelli's "Madonna and Child", the work was to leave the UK. It was to... because the government stepped in and imposed a ban on its export.

The painting "Madonna and Child" by Sandro Botticelli , for over a hundred years was in a private collection in Great Britain . In December 2024, it went to auction at Sotheby's in London , where it aroused great interest among collectors. It was eventually auctioned by a foreign buyer for 10.2 million pounds . However, the finalization of the transaction turned out to be impossible - British cultural authorities suspended the export of the work abroad, giving domestic institutions time to possibly buy it. Time will soon be running out.

Madonna and Child by Sandro Botticelli, 1470 / photo Sotheby’s

"Madonna and Child Enthroned" is one of the earlier works of Sandro Botticelli , an Italian Renaissance master. The painting was created around 1470, probably on a private commission. The work presents the central figures of Mary and Jesus in a subtle approach, devoid of rich scenography.

For decades, the painting was attributed to Botticelli's workshop. The latest technical analyses, including X-ray and infrared studies, have confirmed the authorship of the master himself. This has significantly raised the rank of the work on the art market.

The painting had been in the British collection of Lady Wantage since 1904. The British philanthropist bought the work for... £5,000. In December last year, the painting reappeared on the market and went to auction at London auction house Sotheby's . The final sale price was £8.6 million, and with additional fees - £10.2 million.

After the thrilling sale, the painting was due to leave the British Isles – but at the request of the Art Export Commission, the British government decided to impose a temporary export ban . The argument? Too few of Botticelli’s early works in the country’s public collections, and the painting’s unique importance for the study of Renaissance and Western art.

The ban is in effect until August 8, 2025. Until then, British public institutions have the opportunity to submit a request to purchase the work at the recommended price. If an "Option Agreement" is signed, the ban period will be extended by another six months.

The decision was also supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – an institution whose existence is now under threat from political change. Despite this, DCMS has been active in defending national heritage. In recent years, it has stopped the removal of items including Alan Turing’s notebooks and a medieval ivory sculpture, which eventually ended up in British collections.