Raiders of the Lost Art
Jonathan Conlin considers the history of heritage panics, from relics to Raphaels.
A new mixed-media installation is currently on show at the National Gallery, consisting of a perspex box, three display panels and a small early sixteenth-century Italian painting of the Madonna and Child. Entitled ‘Save the Raphael’, this thought-provoking piece demonstrates that interactive displays are no longer the preserve of the Science Museum. The routine is straightforward: first look at the painting, then read the panels, drop money into the box and depart endowed with the warm glow that comes from helping to save part of our nation’s heritage.
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