temporary export bar has been placed on a painting of the nativity valued at £460,000.
The artwork, painted by Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi in Rome is thought to date from the 1510s.
It is one of the few surviving paintings by the artist, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The export bar imposed by the DCMS is to allow time for a UK institution or gallery to come forward and purchase it to prevent it being sold overseas.
Culture minister Caroline Dinenage said: “This is a beautiful and fascinating work, providing us with an invaluable insight into Roman paintings of the early 16th century.
“Given the rarity of a painting by Peruzzi and the amount we have to learn from this piece, I hope a UK buyer can be found so this work can be studied and enjoyed for years to come.”
The decision to impose an export bar was made following advice from the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), an independent advisory body to DCMS.
Committee…
