§ Lord Hanningfieldasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 January (WA 66–69) on works of art purchased by government departments, how much was paid for each item listed, together with the anticipated cost of the works of art commissioned by the Home Office for its new headquarters. [HL807]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Government Art Collection (GAC), part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, had expenditure on works of art of £298,142 during the calendar year 2003 and £120,412 during the calendar year 2004. The acquisition policy is guided by the Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection which is a non-departmental public body. Members are both independent and ex-officio, and include the directors of the national galleries.
18WAThe information about prices paid is commercially sensitive. It is not the GAC's practice to publish the prices paid for individual works of art purchased directly from the artist, individual or from a dealer as information of this nature might prejudice the commercial interests both of the GAC in its purchasing activities generally and of the relevant artist, individual or dealer. This practice is consistent with the practice of the national collections.
However, the prices paid for works of art acquired at auction are published by the auction houses. The works of art acquired at auction are listed below with the price paid for each.
The anticipated cost for the works of art purchased by the Home Office for the interior of the new Home Office building at Marsham Street, London is £150,000. The art for the exterior is funded under the PFI contract.
Purchases at auction January-December 2003 £ "An English Lady in Winter Costume" 1640; etching by Wenceslas Hollar, from English and Foreign Costumes 864.50 "Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom" 1985; screenprint by Andy Warhol, from the Portfolio "Reigning Queens" 6,792.50 "Interior of a Mosque or Mimbar of the Great Mosque at Damascus" painting by Frederick Leighton 15,057.00 "Portrait of the Broke and the Bowes Families" 1740; painting by Thomas Bardwell 43,225.00 "The Young Artists" c1745; painting by Philippe Mercier 34,580 "George Macartney (1737–1806) Earl Macartney, 1st British Ambassador to China" pastel drawing by Ozias Humphrey. Purchased with accompanying illuminated certificate granting the sitter Earl Macartney and Viscount Macartney of Dervock in the peerage of Ireland, 1792 11,340.00
Purchases at Auction January-December 2004 £ "Chance and Order 4 (Green)" 1970; painting by Kenneth Martin 25,935.00