Museum races to raise £3.5m for almshouse triptych

The triptych had been sent to Sotheby's for safekeeping during renovations

A museum is in a race against time to raise £3.5m for an "exceptionally rare" triptych painting which is due to be auctioned in December.

The piece, dating from the 15th Century, was valued by Sotheby's when it was moved for safekeeping during renovations at St Johns' Almshouse in Sherborne, Dorset.

After discovering its value, the charity decided to sell the altarpiece to fund new accommodation for people in need.

Dorset Museum is asking the Arts Council for a temporary export deferral to allow it more time to raise the money to keep it in the country and on public display.

The painting has been valued at between £2.5m and £3.5m

Experts identified the triptych, depicting five miracles of Christ, as the only surviving work of an unknown painter who was active in Brussels.

It has been described as "exceptionally rare", having survived through religious purges and political upheaval for more than 500 years in the almshouse chapel.

Museum executive director Claire Dixon said: "We have no objects or artworks in our collection related to the Reformation.

"This would be the earliest artwork in our collection, in terms of paintings."

The museum has previously used export deferrals for artefacts worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, but never millions.

She said: "The scale is enormous, I don't know if we are going to be able to do it but I just think, what are we here for if we don't try?

"I don't think it has ever left Dorset - its significance to the county is really important."

The artwork has been kept at St Johns' Almshouse chapel for more than 500 years

With less than two weeks until the auction, the museum is applying for grants and has launched a crowdfunder.

Ms Dixon said she had first spoken to Sherborne Museum and The Sherborne arts centre to ensure they were "fully supportive".

"We don't want to tread on toes," she said.

If successful, the museum said it would look at the possibility of displaying the triptych in Sherborne.

St John's Almshouse closed its 19 retirement accommodation units in 2023 after they became financially unsustainable.

Chairman Richard Hunt said: "With the sale of this artwork, we have an important opportunity to protect the work that the charity can do for generations to come."