London's National Gallery has acquired a mysterious altarpiece, "Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret and Two Angels" (1500-10), for just over $20 million in a private sale arranged through Sotheby's. The painting, funded by the American Friends of the National Gallery London, was sold by a descendant of the Blundell family and had been kept on the Lulworth Estate in Dorset. The artist remains unknown, with proposed names including Jan Gossaert, Jean Hey, and the Master of Saint Giles, and no other works by the same hand are known. The altarpiece was last publicly exhibited in 1960 and has only recently been shown privately to specialists, who remain divided on its attribution.
The acquisition matters because it represents a major investment by the National Gallery in a work of exceptional quality despite its anonymity, reflecting the institution's commitment to acquiring historically significant pieces for its bicentenary. The painting's mysterious origins, unusual iconography—including a slobbering dragon and a goldfinch held by the Christ child—and its unresolved attribution make it a compelling puzzle for art historians. The purchase also highlights the continued importance of private sales and philanthropic funding in securing major works for public collections, while the altarpiece's long absence from public view adds to its allure and scholarly interest.