National Gallery bosses have admitted that none of the museum’s works are insured – with staff relied upon to protect the priceless masterpieces by ‘intercepting lunatics’.
The institution’s chairman Hannah Rothschild revealed the art in the central London building is worth so much that the premiums are unaffordable.
Instead, room attendants are responsible for keeping the works safe – with members of the public also stepping in during two recent attempts by vandals.
The National Gallery – which welcomes more than six million visitors each year – holds more than 2,300 different works of art.
Its collection spans from the mid-13th century to 1900 with famous paintings including Portrait of a Man by Jan van Eyck and The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger – which was worth an estimated £200million in 2012.
The National Gallery, pictured – which welcomes more than six million visitors each year – holds more than 2,300 different works of art
Room attendants are responsible for keeping the works safe – with members of the public also stepping in during two recent attempts by vandals (stock photo)
During a talk at the China Exchange, Rothschild revealed: ‘The fact is that the paintings at the National Gallery are not insured because we couldn’t possibly afford to insure them.
During a talk at the China Exchange, Hannah Rothschild, pictured, revealed: ‘The fact is that the paintings at the National Gallery are not insured because we couldn’t possibly afford to insure them’
‘They are priceless. How could you possibly insure even just The Ambassadors? Nothing is insured in this country.
‘You couldn’t possibly afford to insure them. The moment they go off-site on tour then they become insured.’
According to the Telegraph, she added: ‘The room attendants are extremely highly trained in all sorts of things including how to intercept lunatics.’
Later at the same event, former Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota said that its works are also uninsured because the ‘cost to the Exchequer would be huge’.
A spokesman for the National Gallery said: ‘The National Gallery takes every precaution to ensure the safety of its collection, its visitors and staff.
‘However, we never discuss our security measures in detail as to do so could compromise our security.’
In March the National Gallery was thrown into panic when a visitor attacked one of its paintings with a screwdriver.
The National Gallery’s collection spans from the mid-13th century to 1900 with famous paintings including Portrait of a Man by Jan van Eyck and The Ambassadors, pictured, by Hans Holbein the Younger
The Morning Walk, a 1785 portrait by Thomas Gainsborough, suffered two long scratches that penetrated the paint layers.
Gallery assistants quickly rushed to detain the man, with members of the public helping to restrain him.
The painting, which sold for £30,000 in 1954, was removed from display.