National Gallery London Launches #SaveOrazio Campaign to Acquire Gentileschi's The Finding of Moses

The National Gallery in London has launched a fundraising campaign, #SaveOrazio, to acquire Orazio Gentileschi's The Finding of Moses (c. 1630) from a private collector. The painting, currently on loan and part of the museum's display, is valued at £22 million; the gallery needs to raise an additional £2 million, having already secured over £17 million from its own funds, private supporters, and grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (£2.5 million) and Art Fund (£1 million). The work was commissioned to celebrate the birth of the future Charles II and was painted during Gentileschi's 12-year residence at the court of Charles I, where it hung in the Great Hall of the Queen's House in Greenwich. The National Gallery holds a right of pre-emption that is expiring, creating urgency. Director Gabriele Finaldi stated that acquiring the painting would ensure it remains for public enjoyment and future generations. The campaign also connects to the museum's recent acquisition of Artemisia Gentileschi's Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (c. 1615–17), Orazio's daughter. Stephen Deuchar, director of Art Fund, called the acquisition a major opportunity and noted the £1 million grant is one of the largest the fund has made.