Acceptance in Lieu
When Ruth Cornett's phone rings, she's never sure exactly what to expect. As senior director of the Heritage & Taxation Advisory Service at Christie's, no two days are the same and sometimes solicitors get in touch with exciting news.
‘We recently dealt with an estate where, under the bed, they had unexpectedly found a dusty case containing some Rembrandt prints,’ she reveals. ‘The heir had absolutely no idea that the deceased had been an enthusiastic collector of Rembrandt, so it was a huge surprise.’
The six etchings (c1630s–50s) were consequently acquired for the nation through the ‘Acceptance In Lieu’ scheme and were gifted to National Museums Northern Ireland. They can now be viewed in Ulster Museum's collection in Belfast – a gallery which previously didn't have any works by Rembrandt.
