Dorset Museum seeks to raise £3.5 million for Sherborne artwork

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has launched a campaign to acquire one of the most remarkable and culturally important artworks to surface in recent decades: The Master of the Sherborne Almshouse Triptych,  a superbly preserved 15th-century Netherlandish altarpiece.

It was created between 1480 and 1490 and remained in the same historic setting for more than 500 years.

Until recently, it hung in the chapel of St John’s Almshouse in Sherborne and is among the very few Netherlandish altarpieces of its era in Britain to have survived both the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the wave of iconoclasm that followed.

The work depicts five miracles of Christ and was hidden away for generations but was rediscovered in the early 19th century, captivating historians and visitors alike.

The artwork is being auctioned at Sotheby’s in December (Image: Sotheby’s)

Its panels remain in an exceptional state of preservation, having never left their original home until they were placed with Sotheby’s for safekeeping during recent building works at the almshouse.

The trustees of St John’s Almshouse now plan to auction the painting to help fund urgent new housing units. This has created a rare and narrow opportunity: without swift action, the triptych could pass into a private collection and disappear from public view for generations.

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said it was determined to keep this irreplaceable work in public stewardship. To do so, it must raise the money before the scheduled auction on Wednesday, December 3.

Claire Dixon, executive director for the museum said: “Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has a role and responsibility to acquire artefacts that help us to conserve and share our county’s past, enabling current and future audiences to connect with our shared history.

“This triptych would be a very important acquisition, not just due to its rarity and significance, but also because it helps us to tell a Dorset story not currently represented in our collection.

“Limited resources, funds and space mean that we must make difficult decisions all the time, about what we can and can’t acquire.

“Having reviewed this opportunity carefully, we are excited to launch our campaign to try and secure this incredible artefact so that we can ensure it stays in Dorset and the UK, for local residents, communities and all visitors to enjoy.

“I hope that anyone who shares our passion to ensure this object is cared for and displayed for future generations, will support our appeal.”

The museum is inviting supporters, art enthusiasts, cultural organisations, and the wider community to help protect the artwork.

Donations can be made via https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/sherborne-almshouse-triptych