Museums And Archives

Purchase of ‘Andrew’ by Joan Eardley: Enhancing the Linklater Collection

We wish to purchase the portrait ‘Andrew’ (1955) by Scottish artist Joan Eardley. The painting is an exceptional example of the oeuvre of one of Scotland’s finest artists and was originally part of the Linklater Bequest, donated to the University of Aberdeen in 1976. By returning the portrait to the collection we aim to further enhance one of the country’s outstanding art collections and to ensure that it can be enjoyed by the public for years to come. The painting has been offered for public sale, presenting the risk that this treasure of Scottish art may be purchased by an owner who will not make it available for public view. Of similar concern is that it may be purchased by an overseas buyer, removing the work from Scotland altogether and denying the Scottish public the opportunity to view the painting in the context of the rest of the Linklater Bequest.