Thoroughly decent

The net is awash this morning with the news that London dealer and collector Anthony d'Offay is semi-gifting his huge collection to the nation.

I say semi-gifting, because d'Offay is selling the collection, valued at around £125m, for £28m: the original purchase price of the works, plus a fee to cover the administration of the acquisition. The British and Scottish governments are each putting up £10m; the Art Fund is stumping up £1m and National Heritage Memorial Fund £7m. Work on the deal apparently began in 2006.

The collection - to be known as 'Artist Rooms' - will be administered by the Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland, but is intended to be shown throughout Britain.

Read more about it at the Guardian site, Adrian Searle's view on the Guardian blog, Ed Winkleman on his blog.