LONDON.- Titian's masterpiece Diana and Actaeon which was ArtFunded in 2009 is to go on tour before returning to the National Gallery for the exhibition Metamorphosis: Titian 2012.

The painting was jointly acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery, London with funds donated from the Wolfson Foundation and the Art Fund.

The painting
The work, with its pendant Diana and Callisto, is one of the most celebrated and admired paintings in the European tradition. It has influenced the work of generations of high-profile artists, from Velázquez and Rubens to Turner and Constable down to Lucian Freud. The fable of Diana and Actaeon is recounted by Ovid where the young huntsman Actaeon unwittingly came upon Diana and her nymphs bathing naked. Diana exacts a terrible revenge on the innocent Actaeon by transforming him into a stag, who is then devoured by his own loyal hunting dogs.

The tour
The painting will be displayed at Liverpool, Norwich and Cardiff so there's plenty of opportunity to see this stunning work of art with your own eyes:

Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (13 January – 26 February 2012)
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery (3 March – 15 April 2012)
National Museum Cardiff (19 April – 17 June 2012)