The decision is intended to give British museums and patrons the opportunity to raise funds to acquire the painting. They have until December 26, 2026, to do so. If the necessary amount is raised, the masterpiece will remain in the UK. The portrait depicts wealthy Dutch Mennonite Katrina Hoogsat with a parrot. The work of Rembrandt has been in the UK since 1860 and is considered to have special cultural significance for the country. Attempts to export the painting abroad have been made before. In 2015, after a private sale, the owners applied for an export license for the work, but it was subsequently withdrawn. Now British museums must raise a record amount to prevent the painting from being exported. The campaign to acquire "Portrait of Katrina Hoogsat" could become one of the largest in the history of British museum fundraising.
