basis, will fill an "important gap'' in the Watlington Collection.

Venus and Cupid was painted around 1540 by the German artist, Lucas Cranach.

"This piece is important because the collection in the Watlington Room ranges from the Italian Renaissance through many different European schools of painting, but we didn't have an example of a German mannerist,'' says Gallery director, Mrs. Laura Gorham.

The valuable oil painting, loaned by a long-term resident who wishes to remain anonymous, is a companion piece to a similar work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Cranach, who was known as Lucas the Elder, often painted two versions of the same picture.

He is considered to have painted most of his important work early in life, before he became a successful court painter. He was a friend and portraitist of Martin Luther. One of his most famous works is Rest on the Flight to Egypt, and examples of his work are to be found in the world's major art collections.

Cranach was celebrated for the almost erotic beauty of his female nudes, but although he was presumably inspired, to a certain extent, by the Renaissance and painted many mythological subjects, it is generally agreed that the true classical spirit evaded him.

It was his penchant for adorning his female beauties with transparent veils, necklaces, bracelets and even, on occasions, large hats, that perhaps lends his paintings an unusual charm today.

The cautionary Latin inscription on the upper, left-hand corner of the painting reads: "As Cupid was stealing honey from the hive/A bee stung the thief on the finger/And so do we seek transitory and dangerous pleasures/That are mixed with sadness and bring us pain.'' Mrs. Gorham says that the trustees of the Gallery are especially gratified by this loan: "The donor has a large collection overseas and has been anxious to bring some art work here so that it can be shown in the National Gallery.

Now that we have the facilities, the owner is able to loan work of this calibre, knowing that it will be cared for to a professional standard.'' The Gallery is hoping that this gesture will inspire others to loan their pieces of art: "This is just one example of how much art is potentially available for us to place on show. We are sure there are many people who would like to share items from their collections with the community. Last year, we were able to borrow a very rare, 14th century Russian icon for our icon exhibition, so we feel this is probably just the tip of the iceberg. We are hoping that others will now come forward.'' Mrs. Gorham points out that paintings brought into Bermuda for showing at the National Gallery are duty-free.

The Gallery's latest acquisition will initially be on show until the end of the month. The entire Gallery will be closed for the month of September in preparation for its first major travelling exhibition.

This is the African art show that has been receiving rave reviews in New York.

It is called Secrecy: African Art that Conceals and Reveals.

Mrs. Gorham says that the scope and complexity of the exhibition means that an entire month will be required for setting up, before it opens at the beginning of October.

VENUS AND CUPID is the title of an Old Master painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, circa 1540, now on show at the Bermuda National Gallery.