Bermuda Government has donated $40,000 to the Bermuda National Gallery for its 17 European paintings.The funds will be used to maintain the Watlington Collection of European paintings.The announcement was to formalise the current European paintings and to give a memoureim of understanding as the Government recommits itself to Bermuda National Gallery.“We want to make sure we operate as an international gallery,” said Bermuda Fine Arts Trust chairman Gary Phillips.The artists’ paintings that were displayed during the signing were John Crowe’s ‘Squall off Yarmouth’ and Giovanni Andrea Donducci’s ‘Rachel at the Well’’, which were given by Hereward Watlington in 1982.“These European paintings can bridge the gap regardless of culture,” said curator Sophie Cressall.Community Minister Wayne Scott said: “The Government continues to embrace the arts endeavours and I am pleased to be apart of this. I am pleased to show continuous support and recognise paintings that goes back 500 years. We want to recognise quality work in Bermuda. It’s important that the Government recognises the gallery.”