Exclusive:National Galleries of Scotland rules out buying £3m bust barred from leaving UK

The National Galleries of Scotland has said it has ruled out the acquisition of a £3 million bust which has been temporarily banned from leaving the UK.

The UK Government last week placed a temporary ban on moving the bust - of Sir John Gordon of Invergordon by artist Edmé Bouchardon - out of the UK in a bid to give a British museum or gallery the chance to acquire the work.

The 18th century marble sculpture, created in Rome in 1728 and valued at £3.1 million, is owned by Highland Council.

A spokeswoman for NGS said: "We have been closely following this as it is an important sculpture, with a strong Scottish link. However, it is not something we are currently considering buying."

The UK Government, which said the bust “provides a unique insight into Scottish heritage”, on Friday deferred a decision on an application for an export licence to remove the artwork from the country until 8 April. Criteria of the sale state that any new owner would have to create a replica bust to go on display in Invergordon.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a bust of John Gordon of Invergordon. | UK Government

The Minister’s decision followed the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The sculpture was last sold off in 1930 for £5 following the sale of Kindeace House in Invergordon, when it was acquired by the Burgh of Invergordon Town Council, which was later absorbed into Highland Council.

Two years ago, the council launched a public consultation over plans to sell off the bust to create an ongoing income stream to invest in the local community. It said the high value of the sculpture meant it could no longer be put on public display, due to the “associated security risks”.

National Museums Scotland refused to comment on whether it would consider acquiring the bust.