Portrait of Elizabeth Opie – a happy update

Elizabeth Opie by John Opie RA
Elizabeth Opie by John Opie RA

Last October, as you will know, the Museum launched an appeal “Bring Betty Home” to purchase the beautiful portrait of Elizabeth (Betty) Opie by her brother John Opie RA, the “Cornish Wonder”.  We were so lucky to have the chance to purchase this painting at a very generous reduced price of £9500 and to be loaned it to help with our fundraising.

We are delighted that we have been awarded both grants for which we applied and, with our own fundraising, have enough funds to purchase the painting.  The Museum has raised £1590, the V&A Purchase Grant Fund has offered a grant of £4750 and the Art Fund has awarded a grant of the full £3800 that we requested.  We also have pledges of money that we can call on.

We would like, if possible, to use the extra money to have the painting cleaned and lightly restored, as recommended in the condition report.  It feels good to “Bring Betty Home”!