Leeds art gallery shows masterpiece
Millionaire developer Kevin Linfoot, who built Bridgewater Place and has shaped the Leeds skyline, wants to bring art to the people.
On September 12 his wish will become reality when a fully restored oil painting by British master George Stubbs is unveiled at Leeds City Art Gallery.
In what is regarded as a world coup it is the first time Scrub, owned by Lord Halifax, will hang alongside its sister painting Whistlejacket since their creation by the country's most famous horse painter almost 250 years ago.
The 48-year-old has stumped up £100,000 from his own pocket to bring the lifesize portrait of the racehorse back to its former glory.
He said: "I want people who don't normally go into art galleries to see whether they like it or not.
"The art world can be seen as a bit hoity-toity and your average person might feel they need a degree to even go inside a gallery.
"They're difficult environments for people who are not used to them.
"Art doesn't get much better than Stubbs. Fortunately somebody that I knew owned one already as Lord Halifax is one of my mates."
The idea to restore Scrub was the brainchild of Mr Linfoot's art adviser Sir Nicholas Brooksbank who lives in York and is also a friend of Lord Halifax.
Renowned restorer Viola Pemberton-Pigott along with Anna Sandén and a team of experts have been working since March 2007 on the 10ft by 9ft painting to remove two centuries of dirt as well as previous repair work.
Restoration is still going on and Scrub is expected to arrive in Leeds sometime next week.
Mr Linfoot told the YEP he will have paid out close to £250,000 to finance the restoration and put on the accompanying exhibition which includes many of Stubbs' greatest works.
Mr Linfoot added: "There will be a basic idiot's guide available as well as the catalogue to explain the history behind Scrub and Whistlejacket. I just want everybody to come in and see the painting, even if it's just for 10 minutes during their lunch hour."
Whistlejacket & Scrub: Large as Life runs until November 9.
For more information on Leeds City Art Gallery, visit Leeds Art Gallery
Posted: Monday, September 01, 2008
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